If you stay awake for an entire night...by Rumi

If you stay awake 
for an entire night 
watch out for a treasure 
trying to arrive 

You can keep warm 
by the secret sun of the night
keeping your eyes open
for the softness of dawn

Try it for tonight
challenge your sleepy eyes
do not lay your head down
wait for heavenly alms

Night is the bringer of gifts
Moses went on a ten-year journey
during a single night
invited by a tree
to watch the fire and light

Mohammed too made his passage
during that holy night
when he heard the glorious voice
when he ascended to the sky

day is to make a living
night is only for love
commoners sleep fast
lovers whisper to God all night

All night long
a voice calls upon you
to wake up
in the precious hours

If you miss your chance now
when your body is left behind
your soul will lament
death is a life of no return

~ Rumi
Ghazal (Ode) 258
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

Don't go to sleep.....by Rumi

Don't go to sleep 
this night 
one night is worth 
a hundred thousand souls 

The night is generous 
it can give you
a gift of the full moon
it can bless your soul
with endless treasure

Every night when you feel
the world is unjust
never ending grace
descends from the sky
to soothe your souls

The night is not crowded like the day
the night is filled with eternal love
take this night
tight in your arms
as you hold a sweetheart

Remember the water of life
is in the dark caverns
don't be like a big fish
stopping the life's flow
by standing in the mouth of a creek

even Mecca is adorned
with black clothes
showing that the heavens
are ready to grace
the human soul

Even one prayer
in the Mecca of a night
is like a hundred
no one can claim
sleep can build
a temple like this

Curing a night
the blessed Beloved
broke all the idols and
God remained alone
to give equally to all
an endless love

~ Rumi
Ode (Ghazal) 947
Translated by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994.