If this continuous restlessness were only absent, dear, / If I speak of myself, my story is not long.

This couplet speaks to the delicate nature of human anxiety. The poet suggests that if the restlessness (iztiraab) were continuous, it would vanish. Why? Because the speaker acknowledges that his own story is not long. It’s a profound realization that sometimes, the greatest burden we carry is the narrative we build for ourselves, and accepting our limitations can bring peace.