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Ghazal 1395
i am
the minstrel of
eternal love
and will play
the song of happiness
when my soul
hears music
and changes to softness
i'll break open
the wine jar's seal
i am in love
with the temple of fire1
because i was born
as the prophet
named Khalili Abraham2
i am in love
with soul and
wisdom
i am the enemy
of false images
the spring is arriving
it is high time
for action
for the sun and Aries
to get together
my blood is boiling
my heart is on fire and
the winter snow
is melting away
from my body
someone's love
is knocking me out
and pulling me
after itself
very forcefully
though i am
in this
hell and fire
i'm filled with
honey and nectar
though i am
condemned to take
this journey
i'm filled with
the sweetness of going home
now the time has come
my swetheart
kindly express
what my tongue
can never describe
"RUMI, Fountain of Fire",
Poetic translation April 1991 by Nader Khalili,
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994.
1 temple of fire: a Zoroastrian fire temple. A symbol in sufi poetry
for the "Religion of Love (of God)," which burns up all worldly loves.
2 Khalili Abraham: refers to the story about how the idolators threw
the Prophet Abraham into a pit of fire as a punishment for opposing
their idolatry, but God ordered the fire to be cool (Qur'an 21:68-
69). In the Islamic tradition, the Prophet Abraham is called the
Friend of God (Khaleel Allah).
(footnotes courtesy of Ibrahim Gamard)
I am love's musician playing for joy
I comb the beard of happiness
and pull the moustache of sorrow.
When my core is touched by music
love's wine begins to flow.
In this temple of fire my blood
is melting the snow from my body.
It is spring, it is time for action,
It is time to throw away all false pretences.
Dragged and pulled in love, I bear all the pain.
Caught in this confusion, in this bitter sweetness
I am the captive of this journey.
It is the scent of home that keeps me going
the hope of union, the face of my Beloved.
I know our fate is separation, but until my last breath
I will search for my sweet love,
I will seek my home.
Version by Azima Melita Kolin
and Maryam Mafi
"Rumi: Hidden Music"
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001
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