My dark-eyed beloved (Qaro ko'zum)

beautiful and complex work of poetry that speaks to universal themes of love, humanity, and the beauty of the natural world. It showcases the power of the ghazal form, with its intricate rhyme.

My dark-eyed beloved, learn the science of humanity,

In my eyes, see your fellow man as your homeland.

Let your face bloom like a rose in a garden, T

urn your soul into a garden for the flowers of life.

Join your heart with a stranger's in a bond of blood,

And take the stranger's soul as your own.

If you find me at the foot of a cypress on a hill,

Make me drunk and let me wail there.

If you find joy in the face of your beloved,

Cut your own face and give it to her.

Do not look for the wine of the autumn grape, O idol,

On this branch, you will find only the flame of the fire.

If you take my life while gazing into my face,

Bury me in a shroud woven with roses.

Navoi, if you light up the gathering of pleasure and soul,

Make the stars of that gathering the lamps of the sky.

This ghazal, written by the 15th century Uzbek poet Alisher Navoiy, is a masterful work of art that showcases the richness and complexity of the form. With its beautiful language and evocative imagery, the poem speaks to the power of love, humanity, and the beauty of the natural world.

The poet urges his beloved to "learn the science of humanity" and see their fellow man as their homeland, emphasizing the importance of empathy and compassion. He goes on to describe the beauty of his beloved, comparing her face to a blooming rose and urging her to turn her soul into a garden for the flowers of life.

The ghazal also touches on themes of sacrifice and devotion, with the poet suggesting that his beloved should be willing to join her heart with a stranger's and take their soul as her own. He speaks of the flames of passion and the wine of autumn grapes, using rich, sensual imagery to evoke the intensity of emotion.

The final couplet of the ghazal speaks to the power of art and the importance of shared experiences, suggesting that by lighting up a gathering of pleasure and soul, the stars of that gathering can become the lamps of the sky.