The Chains of Love

Vahshi Bafqi, a 16th-century Persian poet, is known for his deeply emotional and passionate poetry. In this ghazal, he expresses the struggles and sacrifices of love, portraying devotion as both a blessing and a burden. His words convey a sense of longing, surrender, and the inevitability of love’s trials. This poem reflects the timeless theme of love as a force that transcends reason and societal judgment.

They blame us for love, and that alone shall suffice.

Let the world turn to heresy if they call us to compromise.

A kiss, if traded for life, is a bargain well made—

We give our souls willingly, no need for a price.

From head to toe, you shine with love’s pure light,

If not a place of worship, still, they pray in your sight.

We gave our hearts to the tresses of your hair,

Yet in the end, we are bound by the chains of habit’s snare.