Oh mouthpiece of Love !...by Rumi

Oh mouthpiece of Love ! 
Oh eye of the Realities !

Oh thou who deliverest the creatures 
from this ocean full of fire !

Thou art a very ancient shaykh,
a king unparalleled !

Take the spirit by the hand
and free it from the affliction
of its attachments!

In the way of self-sacrifice,
thou huntest for spirits.

Alas,
which of these spirits are worthy to be thy prey?
Who indeed is the creature to brag of love for thee?

Oh, the light of the Creator's Majesty
is in love with thy beauty.

You say,
"What am I to do, for I am the prey of his love?
I am distressed and lovesick"
oh, thou art a skillful physician!

Thy gentleness says,
"Come forward!"

Thy severity says,
"Go back!"
Let me know at once,
which of them speaks the truth?

Oh sun of the spirits!
Oh Beloved (Shams) , sun of God !
Every ray of thy sunbeams
is a subtle and eloquent spirit !

~ Rumi
Ghazal (Ode) 1310
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983