Rubai · 9th–10th century

Came to Me at Dawn

Rudakiرودکی

آمد بر من، که؟ یار، کی؟ وقت سحر

Came to me. Who? My love. When? At dawn.

ترسنده، ز که؟ ز خصم، خصمش که؟ پدر

Afraid. Of whom? A foe. Which foe? The father.

دادمش دو بوسه، بر کجا؟ بر لب تر

I gave two kisses. Where? On moist lips.

لب بد؟ نه، چه بد؟ عقیق، چون بد؟ چو شکر

Were they lips? No. What then? Carnelian. Like what? Like sugar.

From: The Poems of Rudaki
Translation: Persiahaus Editors
Source: Draft translation from the Ganjoor text
Persian text: Ganjoor

A note for readers

A playful quatrain built entirely of short questions and answers, as if the poet is being cross-examined about a dawn visit. The lips are first called carnelian, for their colour, then sugar, for their sweetness. Like the other quatrains given to Rudaki, its attribution is uncertain.