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Ghazal 314
Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink dawn
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change,
let them sleep.
This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
I you want to improve your mind that way,
sleep on.
I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.
If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words
around you,
and sleep.
Version by Coleman Barks
"Like This"
Maypop, 1990
You who possess not Love, it is lawful to you – sleep on; be
gone, for Love and Love’s sorrow is our portion –
sleep on.
We have become motes of the sun of sorrow for the Beloved;
you in whose heart this passion has never arisen, sleep on.
In endless quest of union with Him we hurry like a river, you
who are not anguished by the question "Where is He?" – sleep
on.
Love’s path is outside the two and seventy sects; since your
love and way is mere trickery and hypocrisy, sleep on.
His dawn-cup is our sunrise, his crepuscule our supper, you
whose yearning is for viands and whose passion is for supper,
sleep on.
In quest of the philosopher’s stone we are melting like
copper,
you whose philosopher’s stone is the bolster and bedfellow,
sleep on.
Like a drunkard you are falling and rising on every side, for
night is past and now is the time for prayer; sleep on.
Since fate has barred slumber to me, young man, be gone; for
sleep has passed you by and you can now fulfil slumber; sleep on.
We have fallen into Love’s hand – what will Love
do? Since
you are in your own hand, depart to the right hand – sleep on.
I am the one who drinks blood; my soul, you are the one who
eats viands; since viands for certainty demand slumber, sleep
on.
I have abandoned hope for my brain and my head too; you
aspire to a fresh and juicy brain – sleep on.
I have rent the garment of speech and let words go; you who
are not naked, posses a robe – sleep on.
The Mathnawi of Jalalu’ddin Rumi
Edited and Translated by Reynold A. Nicholson
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