Guest guest Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Dear friends, here are some poems from Rumi's Divan I have recently versified .I find them very enriching and hope some of you enjoy them . > > Divan.20 > > > 1 > > The Glory of Placelessness > > > Swiftly embrace the lotus feet of God’s grace , > Or, suddenly, they may stand up and run . > But don’t hold them tight, like a drawn bow, > As they stray away from strained heart strings. > > Her grace sports many differing disguises, > And performs magical conjouring tricks ; > She often descends in form, but departs as spirit. > > Seek Her in the night sky, She shines in water, > A mere reflection, like the Moon in a deep pool. > When you try to feel Her cool wetness > She goes back to the blackness of the night . > So seek Her in that ‘mysterious placelessness’. > She’ll soon position you in your rightful place, > When you try to reach Her splendid Glory . > > As an arrow flies from an archer’s bow, > Like the golden eagle of imagination, > Know that the Absolute speeds away > From over fanciful speculation. > > I fly from distractions of ‘this and that’, > Not from wearisome fatigue, but from fear > That my dearest love will flee from me . > > Like the soft summer breeze I’m fleetfooted, > In love with my mystic Rose ; She’s its scent. > That Rose, from winter’s dread leaves the garden, > Her grace will flee when She sees an attempt At scholarly rational explanation. > You won’t be even able to say ‘she flew’. > > She’ll vanish if you limit Her boundlessness, > She’ll leave your burning Soul without a mark ! > > D.19 > > 2 > > The Boat of My Being > > > One evening a crescent Moon appeared, > Descended from the night and gazed at me. > As a falcon catches prey at hunting time, > This Moon snatched me up, orbiting the sky. > > When I looked attentively, inside myself, > There was nobody there for me to see, > Because in that Moon’s deep gaze my restless mind, > Through God’s grace, was taken to my heart > And all Divine secrets, stood revealed. > > The spheres of heaven merged in that bright light, > The boat of my Being sailed serenely in that sea , > Its waters became ruffled by mental waves > And the voice of Wisdom was gently heard. > > Then the sea foamed ,and at every fleck, > Figures formed and frothily flooded forth . > Each received a signal from within this sea > And dissolved as Spirit into that vast ocean. > Without the great power of Almighty God > One would never see the moon nor be the sea. > > > D.26 > > 3 > > The Heaven of Unity > > In my Self I catch my Beloved’s scent, > Each night I carry her into my heart ? > David sang ‘be still and know that I am God”. > > Yesterday I strolled in Love’s rose garden, > This plaintive wish entered my addled brain. > Her brilliant Sun peeped from behind my eyes, > A stream of salty tears began to flood. > > Each smiling Rose that springs from Her laughing lips > Has escaped from the sharp thorn of existence. > Each evergreen tree and blade of emerald grass > Is turning like a whirling Dervish in the wild meadow. > But to the ignorant mind of the vulgarly blind > They seem tied to Mother Earth and imprisoned. > > Suddenly at the arbour, my Beloved enters, > The garden becomes drunk and senseless, > Every branch waves and claps its hands. > Her veiled face, is ecstaticly on fire, > My soul was ashamed, and wailed ‘where can I go ?’ > > In the heavenly plane of Divine Unity > There’s no place for numbers, except for One ; > But here, by need, we’ve two’s and three’s. > You hold a hundred thousand ripe grapes > In the cold sweat of your labouring hands’ > If you wish to drink rich, red, ruby wine, > Tread them in the winepress , all together. > > Look ! without reading the many letters, > What’s the meaning of heart-language ? > The purity of brilliant light is derived > From the sacred source of all action. > > The Sage is seated in his kingly state, > My poor verses are but his willing slave. > > > Alan Jacobs . > Sept. 2004 > > > > > > > > > > > > > _________ALL-NEW Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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