Refined translation, thanks to Dr. Maryam Daftari, Parastoo and Sam Arsanjani.
I am the moon in the place of Noplace,
I am Life Itself -- don't search for me outside!
When people call you, they are summoning you to themselves
But when I call you, I will summon you only to your Self!
Whatever color you wish to bring upon me -- I won't mind:
Whether the brightness of hope or the gloom of shame,
Sometimes you are contrary and utter disloyal words
That's right! If you are like that, I will be thus!
In the presence of the blind, I am thus -- Nothingness
In the presence of the deaf ear, I am thus -- Speechless
Why are you washing your eyes with rosewater?
You can stop washing -- Look, I am the Flower!
[To see the clearly apparent flower, you do not need to wash your eyes with flowerwater]
You use Colorful flowers for your clothing and meals :
[Everything you put on and in you is from flowers [-- Thanks to Parastoo]]
You are a flower-eater -- you should not be my guest...!
This flower is *the* Flower! Look closely: you can see the presence of Grace!
With this Grace, I give back what was borrowed
Speech is a ship and meaning is the sea;
Make haste! Come out! I want to sail this vessel!
This blog includes excerpts from my book entitled The Lover's Gaze: Rumi's Guide for Lovers and Spiritual Seekers. In it I try to provide balanced (not too literal, yet not diverging from the original Persian) translations and commentary on the poetry and practical philosophy of Rumi, the Persian Sufi Mystic and Poet. The translations in this blog are copyrighted. If you wish to use them send me an email and I will need to verify usage then send you a formal email of permission of usage.
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