The Black Blanket

Iraqi style
English

The Black Blanket

I envy that black blanket, since it lies against her silver body, slim as a cypress tree. Look at that blanket, what pleasure it enjoys against her, and look at my black luck, kept far from her side.
Explanation: The Persian plays on 'siyah gelim' (black blanket), which also means an unlucky, ill-fated person; the second couplet turns the literal blanket into the poet's own dark fortune.

Original · Persian

قطعه شمارهٔ ۱۸ - سیه گلیم

بر آن گلیم سیاهم حسد همی آید که هست در بر سیمین چون صنوبر او
گلیم بین که در آن بر، چه عیش می‌راند سیه گلیمی من بین که دورم از بر او