Reading Rumi

O Beloved, You flew away from this narrow cage.

You freed Yourself from this dungeon of robbers and pickpockets.

 

You cleaned the dirt and dust from the surface of the mirror.

You saw whatever was in that mirror.

 

You had been hearing, here and there, some news.

You went to that exalted world

and saw that news with Your own eyes.

 

You left earth and water to the Earth and water.

Then, You took the substance of the soul

and pulled it to the sky.

 

You became tired of being around the body.

You preferred to go with the soul.

 

You freed Yourself from the mother womb

which is this world

and ran to the father of intelligence.

 

Drink the wine which sweetens the soul with every breath

in exchange for the suffering we gave You.

 

Since You left, the whole Universe has chosen us.

Now, take anything You choose.

 

You went from this Earth’s saucepan

to the table of the other world,

because You were cooked.

 

The egg became empty, without a bird,

because you got out of this Earth’s egg

and flew away.

 

From now on, You will never fit in this world.

Keep flying through it. You like to fly.

 

Be silent. Go away.

They opened Your lock.

Death matched You for the key.

Divan-i Kebir, Ghazal 230, verses 2350-2361, pages 52-53.