AZMĒ
Reading edition
Note.—The story goes that Gāmī wrote the song about a girl of Kutahār (a village in the Maraz pargana of Kāshmīr) named Azmē, and that it became the occasion of trouble for its author. Complaints were made about Gāmī, and his father reported the matter to the Tahsildār of the district; but the poet explained that Azmē meant “to-day” and that the whole song had only a Sufī significance.
Azmē, love of thee came to me, fortunate vision! Azmē, show me thy face, O darling. Azmē, love of thee, etc. Say where shall I wait, in Shāngas or Naugām? An ill name I got in Kutahār! Azmē, love of thee, etc. I sought thee in Achhaval, Brang, Kutahār— Lakhs of hardships I suffered, my darling. Pomegranate thy cheeks, or saza-posh— How dark are thine eyes, my darling! Shining thy brows as though with sweat— How many a one thy nose has slain, my darling! Sitting by the door, choosing saffron flowers, I know not for whom, my darling! What a famous spinning-wheel is there in Kolgām, Matchless its handle, my darling! Silver are the strings of thy spinning-wheel, Those who see it fall ill with wonder, my darling! Skilfully pounding the rice so fine, The good shape of the cypress has Azmē, my darling! Bright is her dress as a pearl, Short are the plaits of Azmē, my darling! Slowly combing her hair so fine— I will count up thy plaits, my darling! Kāmader has passed through Kutahār, All folk to him must yield (?), my darling! Hapless Māhmud, where shall he wait for thee? An ill name I won in Kutahār, my darling! Māhmud Gāmī.