From RUMI

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

I shall occaisionally post some versifications I have done from

Nicholson's literal translation of Rumi's Mathnawi.

 

Alan

 

 

THE BELOVED

 

 

You’re the bewitching, beguiling, beauteous One ,

All night long you teach love-games to Moon and Venus,

Your twin eyes of witchery shut tight the eyes of heaven.

Look to your hearts, my faithful friends, whatever happens,

I’m so interwoven with her that no other is mixed with me .

I was born from her love at the prime,

I give her my soul to the end.

 

When the plum grows from the bough, it hangs from there,

The tip of Her curl says “start tight rope walking!”

Her candle says “ where’s a moth that it can be consumed ?”

 

For the sake of dancing on that rope, hurry up, and become a hoop!

Throw yourself onto the funeral pyre when her torch is lit,

You’ll never live without that fire once you’ve enjoyed burning!

Even If the waters of life drench you they won’t quench your flame.