Saturday 16 November 2013

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

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