The savor of the Friend
Lingers in my heart like and ancient wine
By God's grace I drink this draught
Until lost in ecstasy.
Oh beloved divine Friends,
It should not be told how the heart melts in your wine
for words are but an echo
in the face of our holy communion.
Yet how my heart would grieve
not to tell such a tale of divine intoxication.
Within this tavern
built from the fabric of our hearts
I have become drunk in Love, such that
I cannot even see my face.
Oh how my imprisoned heart has longed for such blindness
to be free from the terrible tyranny of nufs.
Pour us more wine dear Walia
and let’s become mudzub.
We will light our campfire with the burning of robes.
And that dark expanse that separates lover from beloved
will melt in our intoxication.
Oh dear Walia, I must inform you that
Our drinking songs
have banished us from the table of the pious;
Lament not!
For their fare could never sate a hunger such as ours!
Sing on, Dear Walia
For the sweetness of our dhikr
has been noticed by the wine merchant.
She has welcomed us to the banquet of the true lovers
and bid us eat forever.
Oh beloved Wali,
Some say this wine giveth the heart wings
to fly into heaven.
I say, what need have we of wings,
For in the intoxication of love
this heart has found heaven on earth.
It should not be told how the heart melts in your wine
for words are but an echo
in the face of our holy communion.
Yet how my heart would grieve
not to tell such a tale of divine intoxication.
Within this tavern
built from the fabric of our hearts
I have become drunk in Love, such that
I cannot even see my face.
Oh how my imprisoned heart has longed for such blindness
to be free from the terrible tyranny of nufs.
Pour us more wine dear Walia
and let’s become mudzub.
We will light our campfire with the burning of robes.
And that dark expanse that separates lover from beloved
will melt in our intoxication.
Oh dear Walia, I must inform you that
Our drinking songs
have banished us from the table of the pious;
Lament not!
For their fare could never sate a hunger such as ours!
Sing on, Dear Walia
For the sweetness of our dhikr
has been noticed by the wine merchant.
She has welcomed us to the banquet of the true lovers
and bid us eat forever.
Oh beloved Wali,
Some say this wine giveth the heart wings
to fly into heaven.
I say, what need have we of wings,
For in the intoxication of love
this heart has found heaven on earth.
