Rumi 108

I was dead, became alive
Was tearful, laughingly thrive
With love survive, my only drive
    I have become eternal.


My eyes no longer seek
Am courageous, no more meek
Daring lion, far from weak
    Shine like Venus celestial.


Said, "madness is not thy code
You don’t deserve this abode."
With madness my life explode
    Chains before me break and fall.


"Intoxicated, thou art not
Art not from this divine cut."
I drank my senses out
    Joyously roamed in life’s hall.


"Thou art not yet slain
Joy runs not in thy vein."
Before life now I remain
    Slain, sacrificed and small.


"Thou art sly and cunning
Thy thoughts are wildly running."
My deception was stunning
    Then rejected the external.


Said, "Thou have been a candle light
Crowds focus upon thy sight."
Sight I am not, light without might
    Scattered smoke, wide and tall.


"Thou art guru and teacher
Thou art leader, head, preacher."
I am a mere creature
    Thy will is my only call.


"Thou have feathers, have taken wing
Feather and wing I did not bring."
In pursuit of flight of King
    Lost my feathers, now I crawl.


My beloved, old and fair
Said, "this story, me spare."
I agreed to not share
    Peaceful and eternal.


Thou art the sun’s source and spring
While to shade my body cling
Upon my head, hot rays sting
    I feel the heart infernal.


With light of my soul aglow
My heart opened with loving flow
Weaving a new cloth to show
    Against the tattered rags and all.


That divine face, at time of dawn
Many deceptions would spawn
Enslaved with a thorny crown
    Beloved upon throne install.


I, thy instrument, Thee praise
Thy infinite sweet phase
In my bosom came to raze
    And brought down my ignorant wall.


Praises Thee this drunken dust
Praise the stars and earth I must
Receive thy light with full trust
    From luminous orbiting ball.


The firmaments are in praise
Of lords, lands, angelic gaze
Gracefully love and amaze
    Compassionately, wisely, enthrall.


The wise praise the Lord well
Thus surpass all and excel
Upon the seven skies swell
    Give birth to light, maternal.


I am of Thee O famed moon,
Gazing at me do not swoon
Contagious joy in me bloom
    Laughs my every petal.


I was Venus, now am moon
Wallowing like a gloomy lune
Became Joseph very soon
    Pregnant with hope of renewal.


As if playing a game of chess
Make your call while speechless
King of the World my life will bless
    With a glance, existential.


From slavery to kingly might
From Venus to satellite
Was distant unknown point of light
    Am luminous orb of love, eternal!

Steadfastly Seek with Focus

Upon which path did I tread

So I return, all else I dread;

From Beloved being apart

In the creed of Love is being misled.

If I find another in the whole town

Ain’t but a sign pointing to the Beloved.

I said this is no easy path

In each step a thousand traps spread

O broken heart come not this way

Stay upon your own tender bed.

Seek that which increases the soul

Ask for the wine that lightens your head;

All else is shape and appearance

Fame and shame’s battle and wed.

Be silent, be seated, and be still

Drunken, with such wine break your bread.

O Pride of Spirit, Shams-e Tabriz

Enslaved to Thee my heart and soul instead.

Seeking Love and Grace

Lovers alas, lovers alas

Whoever sees that faceless face

Confusion in him amass

Desperation will embrace.

For beloved cross every pass

Worldly affairs slow their pace

A flowing brook amidst the grass

Flowing tears his face shall trace

His ego is shattered glass

Self-estranged, himself deface

Sense the Divine in spirit and mass

If he is truly seeking grace

Love can withstand molten brass

Gives his own soul in this chase

Through this trap lovingly pass

And find himself beside that face

With love himself will embarrass

Lost in time and in space

There’s no cure, potion, herb or grass

For one who’s lost his earthly base

And his prize, to reach that class

In this futile endless race

Until death too will come to pass

And move him to that place.

The love that hurts will never pass

It is a very special case

Transcendent love has its own class

The aching heart is wrapped in lace

Run out of sand many hourglass

Many a dream lost in space

If miracle shall come to pass

Every magic shall displace

There is no king and no palace

Facing that graceful faceless face

Brave lions cry out alas

Beside the dogs guarding that place.

You are gone !!

Alas that now from our midst you are gone

In spite of the pain you resist, you are gone

Once the circle of friends you blissed

Now with the dust of ants and snakes blissed, you are gone.

What of all the knowledge you endlessly list

What of such mind, in the secret list you are gone.

What of the helping hand the once would assist

What of the feet that gardens assist, you are gone.

Gentle and kind, people you charmed and wist

Then earth’s dust your dust wist, you are gone.

Your sweet replies no more persist

No more tongue that can persist, you are gone.

Jealously repented, strove to desist

Pilgrim of death, from living itself desist, you are gone.

Whither to, can’t see your dust nor your mist

This bloody path, disappearing mist, you are gone.

Silent O heart, tongue shackles your soul’s wrist

What use the flames that turn and twist, you are gone.

Gardener

I knocked on heart’s door, for heart I crave

Came, "who knocks?" I said, "heart’s slave!"

The bright beams of love shone through the door’s crack

Upon the passers by, and lit up that deep black

Wave upon wave of lovely beams, my heart was over-run

Compared to this bright light, were pale the moon and sun.

If the mind takes command, heart enslavement will demand

Will put a leash on mind and all, and hold the end in its hand.

This excitement in the world, serves only to agitate

And break loose every chain, for this joyous heartful state.

His body brings forth light, enthroned upon the seat of might

Soul at its door sits in delight, and reads much in that sight.

He is not a mendicant, who speaks little yet says much

Reflect upon reflections, see all that is while "nothing" watch.

All who have tasted this wine, are compelled to walk this line

Every one of stars nine, with heart’s design themselves align.

From Tabriz one such as Shams, arrives for seekers of divine

Nurtures in love’s vineyard, gardener of thy soul’s vine.

Rumi 155

O God, give the players sweetness and weal

And for the tabbla, give them hands of steel.

For their love, they sacrifice every limb

Of limbs O God, please give them a great deal.

These messengers of love filled our ears

Grant them seeing eyes and thy Royal Seal.

These lovebirds sing and cry out their love

Grace them with the patience that would heal.

In thy praise, they have filled many ears

You too praise their praise and their zeal.

They quenched the thirst of heart's flower

Let the full moon in their skies reel and wheel.

I am silent, please speak to me thy will

For they say you give thus, and thus steal.

O God, all I ask for in both worlds

Like Shams, let me shine, be and feel.