Saturday 16 November 2013

Enthralled only by Love ....by Rumi

Whenever you meet 
someone deep drunk 
yet full of wisdom 
be aware and watch 
this person is enthralled 
only by Love 

Anytime you see
someone who seems gone
tipsy and happy
filled with rapture
be sure and observe
this is the condition
of someone in Love

If you see a head
happy and thrilled
filled with joy
every night and day
this head was fondled
by the fingers of Love

Every moment
someone is blessed
a tree sprouts
an angel flies
even a monster
leaps with delight

When your body
feels together
when your soul
wants to unite
you are chosen
for a blissful Love

~ Rumi
Ghazal 2132
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994

Art thou the sun, or Venus, or the moon ? I don't know.....by Rumi

Art thou the sun, or Venus, or the moon ? 
I don't know. 

What dost Thou want from this bewildered madman ?
I don't know. 

In this court of Ineffability
all is Gentleness and Harmony
what plain art Thou, what meadow, what court ?
I don't know.

Thy Face has made my spirit roses,
violets, narcissus, and lilies;
Thy Moon has illuminated my moon.
What companion art Thou ?
I don't know.

What a marvellous ocean within the heart,
full of fish and shoreless !
I have never seen such an ocean,
I do not know such fish.

The kingship of creatures is a tale,
as insignificant as a kingcup
no king do I know but
that Subsistent King.

Marvellous, infinite Sun
all of thy dustmotes are speaking !
Art Thou the Light of God's Essence?
Art Thou God?
I don't know.

Thy comeliness is burning
the souls of a thousand Jacobs to cinders..

Oh Joseph of beauties,
why art Thou in this well?
I don't know.

Be silent!
For you are a talebearer,
you are drowned in constant change.
At one moment you are hu,
at another ha, at another ah
I don't know.

I will be silent,
for I am drunk from the spell
that has overcome me.

I do not know selflessness and
intoxication from awareness.
I don't know.

~ Rumi
Ghazal 1436
Translation by Professor William Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983