The Cry of the People

The people's grieving cry burned the very soul of souls; it scorched the wounded breast of every lover driven mad. This sigh of mine set fire to hearts already roasted; what a scorching sigh, that burned so many hearts to ash. I spoke to the teacher of a mere spark of my heart's fire; and that flame fell into his soul and burned him head to foot. If one day you reach Joseph, tell him: dear one, the fire of your love burned Zuleikha from head to foot. In early spring I went toward the plain, weeping; my burning sigh scorched the green of hill and field. Mohyi does not realize that his friends drift on heedless; it burned their cloak, their prayer beads, their toothstick, and their prayer mat.