THE SPHERE OF VENUS
| Between us and the light of the sun there hang | |
| how many veils of space fold upon fold! | |
| A hundred curtains have been suspended before us, | |
| intertwisted firework displays, | |
| that the unardent heart may increase in ardour | 1545 |
| and become agreeable to branch, leaf and fruit. | |
| Through its glow blood leaps in the tulip’s veins, | |
| its dance transmutes the stream to quicksilver. | |
| Even so the pure spirit rises from the dust, | |
| the pure spirit flees towards whither towards is not; | 1550 |
| on that road are but death and resurrection, | |
| resurrection and death, | |
| no other provision save fever and glowing. | |
| Into that expanse of a hundred azure heavens | |
| plunging continually, it surges out anew; | |
| itself its own sanctuary, its own Abraham, | 1555 |
| self-offering, like him who was sacrificed to God. | |
| Before it the nine heavens are nine Khaibars, | |
| its smiling is of the stature of Haidar. | |
| It is this incessant conflict that purifies the spirit, | |
| makes it firm, speedy, nimble, | 1560 |
| it spreads its wings in the broadness of light, | |
| its talons seize Gabriel and the houris, | |
| that it may take its share in the eye swerved out | |
| and stand guardian in the ranks of God’s servants. | |
| I do not know where my own station is, | 1565 |
| I only know that it is apart from all friends. | |
| Deep within me rages a war without horsemen and armies; | |
| he well descries it who has vision like me. | |
| Men are ignorant of the conflict between unbelief and faith, | |
| my soul is lonely, like Zain al-Abidin; | 1570 |
| none is apprised of the station and the way, | |
| but for my song there is no lamp to light the path. | |
| Infant, youth, old man-all are drowned in the sea, | |
| only one poor soul has won his way to the shore. | |
| I have drawn aside the curtains of this tent; | 1575 |
| I am fearful of union, and lament for separation. | |
| If union be the end of yearning, beware; | |
| how blessed the sighs and vain lamentations! | |
| The wayfarer searches little for the high-road | |
| if to be carefree is congenial to his soul. | 1580 |
| My soul is such that, for the joy of gazing, | |
| it every moment desires a new world. | |
| Rumi, well aware of the states of my soul, | |
| said ‘Do you desire another world? Take it! | |
| Love is cunning, and we are counters in his hand; | 1585 |
| look ahead-we are in the land of Venus. | |
| This world too subsists on water and clay, | |
| a sanctuary enveloped in purest musk, | |
| with a glance that burns and rends all veils | |
| pass within its clouds and mists | 1590 |
| and you will see therein the ancient gods; | |
| I know them all, one by one— | |
| Baal, Marduk, Ya‘uq, Nasr, Fasr, | |
| Ramkhan, Lat, Manat, Asr, Ghasr; | |
| every one of them offers proof of its immortality | 1595 |
| in the temper of this age that knows no Abraham.’ |