I surrendered my life to the arrow and spent my blood upon the arrowhead; whatever I had with me, I offered it all in hospitality to the guest.
In this striking couplet, the poet reimagines the beloved's fatal arrow not as an instrument of cruelty, but as an honored guest arriving at his doorstep. Honoring the sacred tradition of hospitality, the lover holds nothing back, offering his soul to the shaft and quenching the arrowhead with his own blood. It is a poignant portrait of complete surrender, where even destruction is received with gratitude and grace.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
Audio
Free — just your email. You'll come right back here.
No comments yet. Be the first.