The Ache of Unanswered Love

Ahli Shirazi, a 15th-century Persian poet, was known for his delicate yet deeply emotional poetry. His verses often express the sorrow of unfulfilled love, the pain of longing, and the enduring hope for reunion. In this ghazal, the poet pleads with his beloved, asking why they remain distant despite his suffering. He compares himself to a candle burning through the night in sorrow, emphasizing his unwavering devotion. The poem beautifully captures the anguish of waiting for a love that never truly arrives.

🌿 How long will you turn away from this heart so true?

Come for just one day, and see what I’ve been through.

💫 Each night, awake, I dream of your face,

Like a candle, I burn—lost in sorrow’s embrace.

✨ O faithless beloved, you’ve left me undone,

Yet my heart still beats for you, as if we were one.

🌙 You stole my heart, yet never returned—

Alas, such love holds no story to be learned.