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- Willing Slaves
From deep within my heart
I always catch
the scent of my Beloved.
How can I help but
follow that fragrance?
Last night I was walking through Love's garden
where a glimmer of my soul
became a teeming river of light!
Laughing roses sprang up along the banks.
Dazzlin waters rolled past the thorns of being
with speed enough to elude the sword of death.
Every tree and blade of grass danced in the meadow.
But to an eye without this vision,
all seemed plain and ordinary.
Suddenly a great cypress shot up from the ground!
The whole garden roared with delight --
the jasmines exploded,
the broad-leafed treas clapped their hands.
- Through an Open Window
Come here and catch a kiss
from those ruby lips.
And if it costs you your life,
consider it a bargain!
But that kiss is too pure to mix with dust --
You must become a floating spirit,
free from this body.
The Ocean of Purity said to me:
"Nothing is attained without effort.
To get the precious pearl
you must first smash the shell."
For the rose's kiss
This whole world is parching its lily-lips.
I dare say,
Even if you have the splendor of every king,
and the beauty of Mars and Venus,
don't accept a kiss
from that beguiling Maiden.
I Moon of the dark sky -- come in.
I have opened the window for you.
Tonight, touch my face,
press your lips upon mine.
Close the door of words
that the window of your heart may open --
The Moon's kiss only comes through an open window.
- A Mine of Rubies
Last night I learned how to be a lover of God,
To live in this world and call nothing my own.
I looked inward
and the beauty of my own emptiness
filled me till dawn.
It enveloped me like a mine of rubies.
Its hue clothed me in red silk.
Within the cavern of my soul
I heard a voice of a lover crying,
"Drink now! Drink now!" --
I took a sip and saw the vast ocean --
Wave upon wave caressed my soul.
The lovers of God dance around
And the circle of their steps
becomes a ring of fire round my neck.
Heaven calls me with its rain and thunder --
a hundred thousand cries
yet I cannot hear ...
All I hear is the call of my Beloved.
- We are as a Flute
We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee;
we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from thee.
We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat:
our victory and defeat is from thee,
O thou whose qualities are comely!
Who are we, O Thou soul of our souls,
that we should remain in being beside thee?
We and our existences are really non-existence;
thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable.
We all are lions, but lions on a banner:
because of the wind they are rushing onward from moment to moment.
Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen:
may that which is unseen not fail from us!
Our wind whereby we are moved and our being are of thy gift;
our whole existence is from thy bringing into being.
~~Mesnavi Book I, 599-607 ~~
- You are Drunk
You are drunk
and I'm intoxicated
no one is around
showing us the way home
again and again
I told you
drink less
a cup or two
I know in this city
no one is sober
one is worse than the other
one is frenzied and
the other gone mad
come on my friend
step into the tavern of ruins
taste the sweetness of life
in the company of another friend
here you'll see
at every corner
someone intoxicated
and the cup-bearer
makes her rounds
I went out of my house
a drunkard came to me
someone whose glance
uncovered a hundred
houses in paradise
rocking and rolling
he was a sail
with no anchor but
he was the envy of all those sober ones
remaining on the shore
where are you from I asked
he smiled in mockery and said
one half from the east
one half from the west
one half made of water and earth
one half made of heart and soul
one half staying at the shores and
one half nesting in a pearl
I begged
take me as your friend
I am your next of kin
he said I recognize no kin
among strangers
I left my belongings and
entered this tavern
I only have a chest
full of words
but can't utter
a single one
- Show Me Your Face
Show me your face
I crave
flowers and gardens
open your lips
I crave
the taste of honey
come out from
behind the clouds
I desire a sunny face
your voice echoed
saying "leave me alone"
I wish to hear your voice
again saying "leave me alone"
I swear this city without you
is a prison
I am dying to get out
to roam in deserts and mountains
I am tired of
flimsy friends and
submissive companions
I die to walk with the brave
I am blue hearing
nagging voices and meek cries
i desire loud music
drunken parties and
wild dances
one hand holding
a cup of wine
one hand caressing your hair
then dancing in orbital circle
that is what i yearn for
I can sing better than any nightingale
but because of
this city's freaks
I seal my lips
while my heart weeps
yesterday the wisest man
holding a lit lantern
in daylight
was searching around town saying
I am tired of
all these beasts and brutes
I seek
a true human
we have all looked
for one but
no one could be found
they said
yes he replied
but my search is
for the one
who cannot be found
- In Every Breath
In every breath
if you're the center
of your own desires
you'll lose the grace
of your beloved
but if in every breath
you blow away
your self claim
the ecstasy of love
will soon arrive
in every breath
if you're the center
of your own thoughts
the sadness of autumn
will fall on you
but if in every breath
you strip naked
just like a winter
the joy of spring
will grow from within
all your impatience
comes from the push
for gain of patience
let go of the effort
and peace will arrive
all your unfulfilled desires
are from your greed
for gain of fulfillments
let go of them all
and they will be sent as gifts
fall in love with
the agony of love
not the ecstasy
then the beloved
will fall in love with you
- How Long Will You Hide
How long will you hide
your beautiful
festive smile
teach your laughter
to a flower
manifest an eternity
why do you think
the door to the sky
is closed on your face
it allures and invites
your magical touch
to open and arrive
an entire caravan
is waiting in ecstasy
for your coming and leading
come on my friend
use your talisman and
harness all their souls
today is the day to unite
with your longing beloved
wait no more
for an unknown tomorrow
a tambourine is in a corner
begging your playing hands
a flute is sitting dormant
begging your happy lips
- The Time Has Come
The time has come
to break all my promises
tear apart all chains
and cast away all advice
disassemble the heavens
link by link
and break at once
all lovers' ties
with the sword of death
put cotton inside
both my ears
and close them to
all words of wisdom
crash the door and
enter the chamber
where all sweet
things are hidden
how long can i
beg and bargain
for the things of this world
while love is waiting
how long before
i can rise beyond
how i am and
what i am
- A Voice
A voice
out of this world
calls on our soul
to wake up and rise
this soul of ours
is like a flame
with more smoke than light
blackening our vision
letting no light through
lessen the smoke and
more light brightens your house
the house you dwell in now
and the abode
you'll eventually move to
now my precious soul
how long are you going to
waste yourself
in this wandering journey
can't you hear the voice
can't you use your swifter wings
and answer the call
- Come On Darling
Come on darling
pass me one more cup
bestow on my soul
tranquility once more
and do it now
today is my turn
i can wait no more
for the unknown tomorrow
if you have as my share
even a small trace of grace
give it to me now
don't make me wait
let me go free
help me to break out
from this new trap
i've fallen into again
don't hand me over
to the monster of my thoughts
my thoughts are another trap
another waiting vampire
take my only belongings
take them to the pawn shop
pledge them once more and
bring me the last cup
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