The Moon is my Master

 

The Moon is my Master - Ghazal 2219

Rumi, Translation Ali Arsanjani

 

I am a servant of the Moon, speak to me of nothing more 

In my presence speak of light, speak of sweetness – say no more

 

Don’t tell me about your problems, speak to me only of treasures

And don’t worry if they think, you’ve out of touch — say no more

 

Last night I went insane; love saw me and called out:

Don’t scream: I’m on my way, don’t wring your garments! Say no more

 

I said, my Beloved, this fear is for something else …

Love said: there is nothing else, any more — say no more

 

I will whisper secret words in your ear

Nod if you agree, only gesture, say no more

 

Along the way of the heart a beautiful, life-giving Moon appeared for me

Traveling the way of the heart is heart-warming – say no more

 

my heart “what kind of Moon are you ?” and it replied

This is unfathomable for you, move on and say no more

 

I asked in awe: “Is this the face of an Angel or of human”?

My Moonheart said “this is neither Angel or Man, say no more…”

 

Please tell me what it is, I am uprooted in confusion, I begged

He replied “you can be uprooted and confused, but say no more”

 

You who reside in this house of thoughts and images

Get up and leave, take all your belongings, say no more

 

I begged:  show me Fatherly kindness; how I expect Divinity to treat me!

He replied, “my dear son, you are right, but say no more!”

The Secret of the Outward Face

 

Ghazal 63 from Rumi's Divan -- The Book of Shams

What is It whose reflection creates sweetness of the face?
When It hides, as if a demon had give birth to that face?

If it even shines on the surface, the world will come together in love
And if it hides, you will only see sadness; not a happy face

[غزل شمارهٔ ۶۳]

چه چیزست آنک عکس او حلاوت داد صورت را
چو آن پنهان شود گویی که دیوی زاد صورت را
چو بر صورت زند یک دم ز عشق آید جهان برهم
چو پنهان شد درآید غم نبینی شاد صورت را
اگر آن خود همین جانست چرا بعضی گران جانست
بسی جانی که چون آتش دهد بر باد صورت را
وگر عقلست آن پرفن چرا عقلی بود دشمن
که مکر عقل بد در تن کند بنیاد صورت را
چه داند عقل کژخوانش مپرس از وی مرنجانش
همان لطف و همان دانش کند استاد صورت را
زهی لطف و زهی نوری زهی حاضر زهی دوری
چنین پیدا و مستوری کند منقاد صورت را
جهانی را کشان کرده بدن‌هاشان چو جان کرده
برای امتحان کرده ز عشق استاد صورت را
چو با تبریز گردیدم ز شمس الدین بپرسیدم
از آن سری کز او دیدم همه ایجاد صورت را

We Rise Again

 Again we Rise

 

[Rumi's Ghazal 1674]

We are from above and upward we go ! Again We rise!

We are from the ocean and in waves we go! Again We rise!

We are the ark, vessel of Noah in the storm of the soul

without these hands or feet from earth, again we rise!

out of our Self like a wave we emerge, we rise

we see ourselves from deep within and again we rise!

like a needle we thread the narrow way of Truth

We weave through lies with a single thread and again we rise!

to travelers say,  while on the way, remember your home,

That way we know, why we continue to go, and again we rise!

If you have ever sung "we return to the One"

you will know, how far we can go, for again we rise!

Our constellation doesn’t go around the moon

We fly through space so close to Venus and again we rise!  

Nothing deters our determined minds 

from the great to the greatest, again We rise!

in our silos of wheat get rid of these mice

your blindness won’t see, how clearly, we rise!

A moment of silence before we depart, 

this chivalry, you don’t need to follow, for again we rise!

on our way to a mythical place where the Phoenix hides

Don’t block the way to the magical bird in this mountain pass 

Who are you to block our way to where the Simorgh lies

from above we are and upward we go ! and Again We rise!

You arise from within like words I speak

 

You arise from within like words I speak

[Ghazal 173]

I drew you out From a fire,  then placed you in another type of fire

You are born of my heart like the words that I speak

Like those words in my speech I finally swallowed you 

You are with me and don't ask me what is new

I am magic and I cast my magic on you

So no evil eye falls on you, I gave you the work over and that upset you

Your destiny was renewed from what it brought, this palm was chivalrous to you.

We Rise

Rumi's Ghazal 1674

We rise! we are from above and toward it we go 

We are from the ocean and toward it we go

...

...

We are the ark, the vessel of Noah in the storm of the soul

And so we travel without these earthly hands or feet

Like a wave, our head emerges out of our Self

Again we observe ourselves from within

The way of Truth is narrow like a needle's thread

We move through like a single thread

Remember your home and fellow travelers while on the way

With that you know we continue our travel every moment

If you have recited "we return to Him"

you will known how far we can go

Our constellation does not revolve around the moon

So we have to travel around Venus

Our minds filled with keen determination

We can rise from the great to the greatest

Let the blind mice leave our silos of food

Otherwise your blindness will not see how clearly we see

OK let's be silent now and bid us farewell

Don't follow us for we rise with great chivalry

Who are you to us? Don't block our way

We are on our way to legendary mountain that hides the Simorgh and Phoenix.  

غزل شمارهٔ ۱۶۷۴

 

ما ز بالاییم و بالا می رویم

ما ز دریاییم و دریا می رویم

ما از آن جا و از این جا نیستیم

ما ز بی‌جاییم و بی‌جا می رویم

لااله اندر پی الالله است

همچو لا ما هم به الا می رویم

قل تعالوا آیتیست از جذب حق

ما به جذبه حق تعالی می رویم

کشتی نوحیم در طوفان روح

لاجرم بی‌دست و بی‌پا می رویم

همچو موج از خود برآوردیم سر

باز هم در خود تماشا می رویم

راه حق تنگ است چون سم الخیاط

ما مثال رشته یکتا می رویم

هین ز همراهان و منزل یاد کن

پس بدانک هر دمی ما می رویم

خوانده‌ای انا الیه راجعون

تا بدانی که کجاها می رویم

اختر ما نیست در دور قمر

لاجرم فوق ثریا می رویم

همت عالی است در سرهای ما

از علی تا رب اعلا می رویم

رو ز خرمنگاه ما ای کورموش

گر نه کوری بین که بینا می رویم

ای سخن خاموش کن با ما میا

بین که ما از رشک بی‌ما می رویم

ای که هستی ما ره را مبند

ما به کوه قاف و عنقا می رویم

Moon Musician Tell us what you heard

  

Tell Us

Rumi Ghazal 2245

https://ganjoor.net/moulavi/shams/ghazalsh/sh2245

مطرب مهتاب رو آنچ شنیدی بگو 

Musician, with beauty like the Moon 

Tell us, everything you have heard !

ما همگان محرمیم آنچ بدیدی بگو 

We have all been in your circle of trust 

Tell us, everything you have seen!  

ای شه و سلطان ما ای طربستان ما 

Our King, our Governor,  by your hand 

You bring green freshness to the land  

در حرم جان ما بر چه رسیدی بگو 

Within the holy sacrament of our life 

Tell us what you have come upon!  

نرگس خمار او ای که خدا یار او 

Shy, coy like a  fresh  daffodil 

May God always assist her! 

دوش ز گلزار او هر چه بچیدی بگو 

Yesterday I saw you in His flowergarden 

Tell us, which flowers did you cut? 

ای شده از دست من چون دل سرمست من 

I am growing more restless now 

my heart brimming in drunken love  

ای همه را دیده تو آنچ گزیدی بگو 

You can observe everyone all the time 

Tell us, then, which have you chosen?!  

عید بیاید رود عید تو ماند ابد 

Holidays come and pass along 

Your Holy Day remains everlasting  

کز فلک بیمدد چون برهیدی بگو 

From the fate of the Heavens, unaided 

Tell us, how were you able to flee!  

در شکرستان جان غرقه شدم ای شکر 

In the sweetland of the Soul 

I am drowned in your sweetness 

زین شکرستان اگر هیچ چشیدی بگو 

Inside that sweetland 

Tell us, what were you able to taste?    

میکشدم می به چپ میکشدم دل به راست 

Wine pulled me leftward 

my heart pulled me right   

رو که کشاکش خوش است تو چه کشیدی بگو 

Don’t worry, this tug of war is sweet 

Tell us, what have you been pulling for?  

می به قدح ریختی فتنه برانگیختی 

As you poured wine into the cup,  

I knew you would stir controversy!  

کوی خرابات را تو چه کلیدی بگو 

In the streets behind the wine tavern 

Tell us, where did you hide the keys?  

شور خرابات ما نور مناجات ما 

The passion of our tavern 

 The shining light of our prayers 

پرده حاجات ما هم تو دریدی بگو 

Our veiled requests for help - 

Tell us, how have you rent them asunder?  

ماه به ابر اندرون تیره شدهست و زبون 

Into the clouds went the Moon 

darker it grew and subdued  

ای مه کز ابرها پاک و بعیدی بگو 

Moon who are distant from clouds

Tell us, now that you’re clear of them!  

ظل تو پاینده باد ماه تو تابنده باد 

May your rays be everlasting 

May your Moon ever shine  

چرخ تو را بنده باد از چه رمیدی بگو 

The whirling heaven is your servant  

Tell us, from what have you fled? 

عشق مرا گفت دی عاشق من چون شدی 

Love asked me last night 

How did you fall in love with Me?  

گفتم بر چون متن ز آنچ تنیدی بگو 

I said: don’t dwell on how! 

Tell us, what have you woven ? 

مرد مجاهد بدم عاقل و زاهد بدم 

I used to be a warrior 

wise and pious was I

عافیتا همچو مرغ از چه پریدی بگو 

Like a cautious bird avoiding traps 

Tell us, what were you flying away from?  

https://www.aparat.com/v/sL9Ep/