Quatrain 24

RubāʿīIraqi style
English

Quatrain 24

Whoever sets his lips on that joyful ruby mouth plants his foot above the nine thrones of the heavens. The sun, like the moon, out of respect before that face, lays its brow upon the dust twice each day.
Explanation: The 'ruby' refers to red lips, a standard Persian image for a beloved's mouth. The sun bowing twice a day evokes sunrise and sunset as gestures of homage.

Original · Persian

رباعی شمارهٔ ۲۴

لب هر که بر آن لعل طربناک نهد پا بر سر نه کرسی افلاک نهد
خورشید چو ماه پیش رویش به ادب هر روز دو بار روی بر خاک نهد