Rumi
Translated from the Farsi by Homa Mojadidi
Ghazal 1393
I was dead—I became alive, I was crying—now I laugh,
I became an everlasting treasure once I gained the treasure of love
My eyes are full to the brim—I’m not afraid. I’ve become
radiant like the moon. I’ve been imbued with the strength of a lion
He said, you’re not insane, you’re not worthy of this house
I went and became insane, encased and encircled in chains
He said, you’re not drunk enough—go, you’re of no use
I went and became drunk with love, ridden with sorrowful sighs
He said, you’re not yet slain, nor immersed in exuberance
before His life-giving beauty, I became slain and scattered to bits
He said, you’re too clever, lost in your fancies and doubts
I lost all track of my senses and severed all my ties
He said, you’ve become a candle and the qibla for those gathered in this house
I’m neither gathered, nor a candle, I’ve simply become scattered smoke
He said, you’re a shaikh, you’re a leader, you’re a guide, lead the way
I’m neither a shaikh, nor a leader, nor a guide, I’ve simply become slave to your command
He said, you’ve wings and feathers. I won’t give you back your wings and feathers
out of desire for Him, I gave up my wings and feathers—became wingless and featherless
This newly found treasure whispered to me, “don’t strive nor stress upon this path”
out of His love and generosity, I turned my face towards Him and never turned back
My old love told me, do not leave our side
I said, I will not. Here, I will eternally reside
You’re the eye of the sun, I’m the willow’s shade
I burnt in the fire of your love until pure essence I became
My heart came to realize what it means to be open and alive
it wove a new satin cloth and became enemies with my old rags
A slave to my lower self—my outer form bragged of its heedlessness
at the time of dawn until—I became a king who bows to none but you
I’m infinitely grateful for this paper—imprinted with divine words
since I came into its possession, I’ve remained eternally Yours
This lofty clay pays gratitude to the world—its lowliness and its heights
due to a single glance from its Mover, I became a receptacle of light
This revolving world pays homage to the angels, the ruler, and the ruled
due to His generosity and forgiveness, I became illumined from within
The true knower of God learns his lessons from all he encounters
I ascended the seventh heaven and became a shining star
I was Venus, I became the moon, I became the ever-revolving galaxy
I was Yusuf, now a hundred Yusufs are born from me
I’ve found my fame from You—look at me and look at You
because You smiled at me, I’ve become an orchard full of delight
Be silent like a game of chess—let your state speak through you
because of the beauty of that King, I’ve become filled with felicity and fortune