Yes, I yearn and carry a burning ache, but a…
Quote
Yes, I yearn and carry a burning ache, but a man like me does not let his secret be spread.
Arabic original
بلى أنا مشتاق وعندي لوعة، ولكن مثلي لا يذاع له سر.
What it means
The poet admits his feelings while protecting his private life. His reluctance to reveal them expresses a tension between vulnerability and pride, rather than an absence of love.
The story behind this quote
This is the second verse of Araka ‘asiyya al-dam‘. It answers the opening question about whether love can have power over someone so outwardly patient.
The admission begins with a yes that directly answers the preceding question. It is immediately qualified by the wish to keep the feeling private. This movement explains the speaker’s restraint: the reality of longing differs from what he chooses to reveal to others.
The source
أراك عصي الدمع شيمتك الصبر, البيت الثاني من القصيدة
The text appears in the indicated source. A traditional attribution remains distinct from proof of authorship: see the context.
More quotes by Abu Firas al-Hamdani
I see you resisting tears, patience your nature; does love have no command or prohibition over you?
My people will remember me when their trials grow grave; in the dark night, the full moon is missed.