THE SONG
OF SAROSH
I fear that you are steering the barque into a mirage; | |
born within a veil, you will die within a veil. | |
When I washed the collyrium of Razi from my eyes | |
I saw the destinies of nations hidden in the Book. | 690 |
Twist over field and avenue, twist over mountain and desert | |
the lightning that twists upon itself dies within the cloud. | |
I dwelt a while with the Westerners, sought much and saw scarcely | |
the man whose musical modes turn not upon number. | |
Without the anguish of battle that propinquity is not attainable; | 695 |
you who speak of scent in rose-water, , go, ravish the rose-bush! | |
Superficial ascetic, I concede that selfhood is transient, | |
but you do not see the whirlpool within the bubble. | |
This delightful music comes not from the minstrels plucking, | |
a houri exiled from Paradise is weeping within the lute. | 700 |