Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī - Tabrizi Sun of Truth and Faith

Shall I call him candle,

picture of love,

heart-stealer,

life-sustainer,

pure spirit,

tall-statured,

infidel,

soul’s beloved?

An old man stomping before his dais like a drunk –

but a sea of knowledge, a philosopher and sage

holding to the hem of knowledge with his teeth

but the smith’s tongs of love

having left him not a single tooth ...

There I am, transfixed by this sage’s light,

the old man completely absorbed in the beloved

He like a mirror’s face, pure reflection

I, two-headed, like a comb

I grew old in that subtile old man’s beauteous glory

I, like a moth in him, he having in me a moth

I finally called out:

Master of all beings in knowledge

and of all the climes in art,

grant us from your grace a small abode

He said:

You are farsighted, but closed of eye –

I’ll tell you. Heed this, the sure and

august counsel of my heart:

My knowledge and knowing,

sagesse and wisdom and culture

see how all of it is drowned

in the beauty

of one rosy-cheeked

and priceless pearl

When I looked, what did I see –

the ruin of the heart and soul

O Muslims, have mercy! O Lord, some aid and succor!

You cloak these words in mystery; say it plain!

Do not fear the jealous, tell true and bravely – who was it?

That Tabrizi Sun of Truth and Faith, that Lord

who turned this laggard by his love into a leader!