A poem by Rumi - in memoriam
06/06/08 09:41 Filed in: Poetry
I learned on Wednesday that a good friend in the UK, Ann, had met an untimely end. She died last Friday. Ann was a special person. She was irreverent, loving, funny, brave and one of the kindest people I have known. She could also be downright difficult! But so can we all...
In her life, she had worked tirelessly as a counsellor working with mentally ill people around Oxford. She was loved as everyone's friend. She never turned anyone away. She was selfless to the last.
So I wanted to pay tribute to her here with a poem we had shared and that she enjoyed. Most of the poetry she liked featured ribald humour. This one is different. It's by the thirteenth century Persian poet, Rumi, and feels like a fitting farewell. It's called "A garden beyond paradise".
A GARDEN BEYOND PARADISE
Everything you see has its roots
in the unseen world.
The forms may change,
yet the essence remains the same.
Every wondrous sight will vanish,
every sweet word will fade.
But do not be disheartened,
The Source they come from is eternal—
growing, branching out,
giving new life and new joy.
Why do you weep?—
That Source is within you,
and this whole world
is springing up from it.
The Source is full,
its waters are ever-flowing;
Do not grieve,
drink your fill!
Don't think it will ever run dry—
This is the endless Ocean!
From the moment you came into this world,
a ladder was placed in front of you
that you might transcend it.
From earth, you became plant,
from plant you became animal.
Afterwards you became a human being,
endowed with knowledge, intellect and faith.
Behold the body, born of dust—
how perfect it has become!
Why should you fear its end?
When were you ever made less by dying?
When you pass beyond this human form,
no doubt you will become an angel
and soar through the heavens!
But don't stop there.
Even heavenly bodies grow old.
Pass again from the heavenly realm
and plunge into the ocean of Consciousness.
Let the drop of water that is you
become a hundred mighty seas.
But do not think that the drop alone
becomes the Ocean—
the Ocean, too, becomes the drop!
Farewell Ann...My thoughts and heart go with you.
In her life, she had worked tirelessly as a counsellor working with mentally ill people around Oxford. She was loved as everyone's friend. She never turned anyone away. She was selfless to the last.
So I wanted to pay tribute to her here with a poem we had shared and that she enjoyed. Most of the poetry she liked featured ribald humour. This one is different. It's by the thirteenth century Persian poet, Rumi, and feels like a fitting farewell. It's called "A garden beyond paradise".
A GARDEN BEYOND PARADISE
Everything you see has its roots
in the unseen world.
The forms may change,
yet the essence remains the same.
Every wondrous sight will vanish,
every sweet word will fade.
But do not be disheartened,
The Source they come from is eternal—
growing, branching out,
giving new life and new joy.
Why do you weep?—
That Source is within you,
and this whole world
is springing up from it.
The Source is full,
its waters are ever-flowing;
Do not grieve,
drink your fill!
Don't think it will ever run dry—
This is the endless Ocean!
From the moment you came into this world,
a ladder was placed in front of you
that you might transcend it.
From earth, you became plant,
from plant you became animal.
Afterwards you became a human being,
endowed with knowledge, intellect and faith.
Behold the body, born of dust—
how perfect it has become!
Why should you fear its end?
When were you ever made less by dying?
When you pass beyond this human form,
no doubt you will become an angel
and soar through the heavens!
But don't stop there.
Even heavenly bodies grow old.
Pass again from the heavenly realm
and plunge into the ocean of Consciousness.
Let the drop of water that is you
become a hundred mighty seas.
But do not think that the drop alone
becomes the Ocean—
the Ocean, too, becomes the drop!
Farewell Ann...My thoughts and heart go with you.
|
Poetry by Rumi
07/05/08 07:09 Filed in: Poetry
I love this poem.
What is it that beats inside me now?
Only the rhythm of your blood
only the waves of the ocean
into which you have cast me.
Knowing not how to swim,
I am at peace
Drowning without choice
In these unknown waters
Alone
Bereft of all things
save this one gift
to be so emptied
as to become myself
the cup of longing
filled to the brim…….
Many …have I known,
Yet none have known me
Never has one knocked on this door
Which you have pierced and entered
Before I even thought
To lay a stone across the way
against your coming.
What is it that you offer me,
That my being opens,
as a tide turning,
as a flowers face
knowing the direction of the sun?
Nothing can you give me.
Yet all my being
Opens
Without thought of price
And gives itself to You.
What is it that beats inside me now?
Only the rhythm of your blood
only the waves of the ocean
into which you have cast me.
Knowing not how to swim,
I am at peace
Drowning without choice
In these unknown waters
Alone
Bereft of all things
save this one gift
to be so emptied
as to become myself
the cup of longing
filled to the brim…….
Many …have I known,
Yet none have known me
Never has one knocked on this door
Which you have pierced and entered
Before I even thought
To lay a stone across the way
against your coming.
What is it that you offer me,
That my being opens,
as a tide turning,
as a flowers face
knowing the direction of the sun?
Nothing can you give me.
Yet all my being
Opens
Without thought of price
And gives itself to You.