O Lord, keep the secret of someone's love safe; whether the hand of madness remains or not, may the sleeve remain intact so the secret is not exposed.
In this tender prayer, the lover cares more about shielding the sacred secret of his beloved than his own sanity. In classical ghazal imagery, the 'hand of frenzy' (dast-e-junoon) violently tears one's clothes in despair, exposing all hidden pain to the cruel world. The poet selflessly begs that even if madness consumes him and breaks his hand, the 'sleeve' must remain whole to keep the dignity and mystery of their love safely hidden.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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