Love

Poem : 1201

From thought of her unfailing gladness springs,
Sweeter than palm-rice wine the joy love brings.

Explanation :
Sexuality is sweeter than liquor, because when remembered, it creates a most rapturous delight.

Poem : 1202

How great is love! Behold its sweetness past belief!
Think on the lover, and the spirit knows no grief.

Explanation :
Even to think of one's beloved gives one no pain. Sexuality, in any degree, is always delightful.

Poem : 1203

A fit of sneezing threatened, but it passed away;
He seemed to think of me, but do his fancies stray?

Explanation :
I feel as if I am going to sneeze but do not, and (therefore) my beloved is about to think (of me) but does not.

Poem : 1204

Have I a place within his heart!
From mine, alas! he never doth depart.

Explanation :
He continues to abide in my soul, do I likewise abide in his ?

Poem : 1205

Me from his heart he jealously excludes;
Hath he no shame who ceaseless on my heart intrudes?

Explanation :
He who has imprisoned me in his soul, is he ashamed to enter incessantly into mine.

Poem : 1206

How live I yet? I live to ponder o'er
The days of bliss with him that are no more.

Explanation :
I live by remembering my (former) intercourse with him; if it were not so, how could I live ?

Poem : 1207

If I remembered not what were I then? And yet,
The fiery smart of what my spirit knows not to forget!

Explanation :
I have never forgotten (the pleasure); even to think of it burns my soul; could I live, if I should ever forget it ?

Poem : 1208

My frequent thought no wrath excites. It is not so?
This honour doth my love on me bestow.

Explanation :
He will not be angry however much I may think of him; is it not so much the delight my beloved affords me ?

Poem : 1209

Dear life departs, when his ungracious deeds I ponder o'er,
Who said erewhile, 'We're one for evermore'.

Explanation :
My precious life is wasting away by thinking too much on the cruelty of him who said we were not different.

Poem : 1210

Set not; so may'st thou prosper, moon! that eyes may see
My love who went away, but ever bides with me.

Explanation :
May you live, O Moon! Do not set, that I mine see him who has departed without quitting my soul.