Rabia (Rabi'a Al-'Adawiyya) - I carry a torch in one hand

July 15, 2009

A SHORT SUFI POEM FROM IVAN--- On Wed, 15/7/09, Poetry Chaikhana <ivan wrote:

Poetry Chaikhana <ivan[Poetry Chaikhana] Rabia (Rabi'a Al-'Adawiyya) - I carry a torch in one handalanadamsjacobsDate: Wednesday, 15 July, 2009, 4:58 PM

Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana --

I carry a torch in one hand

By Rabia (Rabi'a Al-'Adawiyya)(717 - 801)

English version by Charles Upton

I carry a torch in one handAnd a bucket of water in the other:With these things I am going to set fire to HeavenAnd put out the flames of HellSo that voyagers to God can rip the veilsAnd see the real goal.

-- from Women in Sufism: A Hidden Treasure - Writings and Stories of Mystics Poets, Scholars & Saints, Edited by Camille Adams Helminski

Amazon.com / Photo by nblumhardt /

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Thought for the Day:

What we call the egois the individual's particular wayof not being fully present.

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Tandava

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Hi Alan -What can I say? I like the spiritual ferocity of this short verse.---Rabia, sometimes called Rabia of Basra or Rabia al Basri, was born to a poor family in Basra in what is now Iraq. Her parents died of famine and she was sold into slavery.The story is told that her master one night woke up and saw a light shining above her head while she was praying. Stunned, he freed her the next morning.Rabia chose a solitary life of prayer, living much of her life in desert seclusion.Her fame as a holy woman spread and people began to journey to her retreat, to ask advice, to study, to learn.Today she is greatly revered by devout Muslims and mystics throughout the world.Ivan

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.

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