...the whole business of love

The intellectual is always showing off,
the lover is always getting lost.
The intellectual runs away.
afraid of drowning;
the whole business of love
is to drown in the sea.
Intellectuals plan their repose;
lovers are ashamed to rest.
The lover is always alone.
even surrounded by people;
like water and oil, he remains apart.
The man who goes to the trouble
of giving advice to a lover
get nothing. He's mocked by passion.
Love is like musk. It attracts attention.
Love is a tree, and the lovers are its shade.

* * * * *

Intipati cinta

Intelektual selalu menunjuk-nunjuk,
Kekasih selalu hilang jalan.
Intelektual lari mendesah-desah,
Takutkan lemas;
Intipati cinta hanya satu
Untuk lemas tenggelam di lautannya.
Intelektual merencana istirehat mereka;
Kekasih malu untuk berehat.
Kekasih selalu sendirian,
Biarpun dikelilingi orang banyak;
Seperti air dan minyak, terpisah dia.
Orang yang bersusah-susah
Menasihati kekasih,
Mendapat hampa. Dia dicemuh ghairah cinta
Cinta seperti kasturi. Ia menarik perhatian
Cinta adalah pohon, dan kekasih adalah teduhnya.

Kulliyat-e Shams, 21