Lovers of Truth- rise up!
Let us go toward heaven.
We have seen enough of this world,
It’s time to see another…
No, no- don’t stop here.
The gardens may flow with beauty
But let us go to the Gardner Himself.
Let us go,
Bowing to the ocean
like a raging torrent.
Let us go,
Riding upon the foaming waters
of the sea.
Let us travel from this desert of
Hunger and tears
To the feast of the newlyweds.
Let us change our expression
From one of saffron
To the blossoms of the Judas tree.
Our hearts beat fast
We tremble like leaves about to fall.
Let us become the immovable mountain.
There is no escape from pain for one in exile;
There is no escape from dust
For one who lives in a dustbowl.
Let us be like the birds of paradise,
That fly about drinking sweet water.
We are surrounded by the forms
of a formless creator.
Enough with these forms!
Let us go to the Formless One.
Love is our steady guide
On this road full of hardships.
Even if the king offers you his protection,
It is better to travel with the caravan.
We are the rain that falls upon
a leaky roof-
let us miss the holes
and fall smoothly down the spout.
We are crooked bows
With strings that run from our head to toes;
Soon we will be straight
like an arrow in flight.
We run like mice when we see a cat –
yet we are the lion’s roar.
Let us become that Lion.
Let our souls
mirror the love of our Master.
Let us go before Him
With a handful of gifts.
Now let us be silent
So that the Giver of Speech may speak.
Let us be silent
So we can hear Him calling us
Secretly in the night….
We are surrounded by the forms
Of a formless Creator.
Enough with these forms!
Let us go to the Formless One!
(version of Rumi by Coleman Barks)
