THE ROSE HAS WITHERED

[Guest guest]

FROM RUMI.

 

THE ROSE HAS WITHERED

 

> Since the rose has withered and the garden lies forlorn

> From whom shall we breathe the fragrance of the rose?

> When God is out of sight, Prophets are his Vicars,

> Yet the Prophet and God are one without a second,

> They are two only if you worship the bodily form

> They're one for all who've passed beyond that perception.

> When you look at the form your eye has double vision

> Look at the eye’s light which grew single from the Self.

> If ten lamps are lit in one hall each differs in form,

> To see the light of each is well nigh impossible

> When you stare at the fully blazing candelabra.

> If you count a hundred freshly picked, ripe red apples,

> They become as one when crushed in the cider press.

> In spiritual matters there are no numbers or parts,

> There is no false division nor any individuals.

> Sweet is the oneness of the Friend with his friends ,

> Clutch and cling to the naked feet of this spirit,

> Forms are opposed to realisation of spiritual unity .

> Make headstrong form waste away with trial and tribulation,

> So beneath it you may discover unity like buried treasure,

> And if you fail His bountiful grace will surely conquer.

> My heart is His slave, He shows himself to our hearts,

> He mends the torn and tattered robe of the Dervish.

> We were single, and all from one substance without heads,

> We were one substance like the Sun, knotless like water.

> When that light took form it multiplied like shadows off a

> wall.

> Smash the wall with a catapault that the shadows will

> crash.

> I would have made these points with greater vigour

> But feared weaker minds may stumble from my rigour.

> The points are sharp as a razor’s edge,if you catch the

> sense,

> So turn within and flee from this dream of a world.

> Do not come without a strong shield against this keen

> blade,

> The warrior’s sword is never afraid of execution ,

> I place my scmitar in its sheath so none may mistake

> The true meaning of my munbling metaphors and discourse .

>

> Keep company with the followers of Reality to win

> That gift and be generous in surrendering your will to

> God,

> In this body, spirit exiled from the Self is a wooden

> sword,

> When sheathed it seems strong but when needed its use is

> firewood.,

> Don’t wield a wooden sword in battle, have one of real

> steel,

> The sword of Reality is the weapon of prophets and Saints,

> The wise Sage is divine compassion to lost human beings.

> If you would purchase a pomegranate make sure its ripe,

> Open and laughing so you can view its interior seeds,

> This happy fruit makes the garden joyous and blooming.

> Unblest is the openness of the red anemone, black at

> heart,

> ‘Though you be a rock, when you meet the Saint you’ll

> be a jewel.

> Plant the love of Holy Ones in your heart and avoid

> dispair,

> Don’t enter darkness,there are Suns blazing in the world

> of men.

> Follow the body and it will lead you into the prison house

> of clay and water,

> Give your heart to converse with an awakened Sage.

 

This is one of the versifications from the Mathnawi of Rumi based on

R.Nicholson's Literal Prose Translation which I have done.