VISITATION TO HIS HIGHNESS SAYYID ALI HAMADANI
AND MULLA TAHIR GHANI OF KASHMIR

Rumi’s words kindled a fire in my heart.
Alas for Panjab, that precious land!
Even in Paradise I burned with the fever
of my friends, and knew again my ancient griefs 2860
until in that bower a sorrowful voice
rose up from the banks of the stream Kauthar:
‘I gathered a handful of straw to set myself on fire;
the rose supposes that I would build a nest in the garden.’
Rumi said, ‘Observe what is now coming; 2865
give not your heart to what has passed, my son.
That poet of colourful song, Tahir Ghani,
whose poverty abounds in riches inward and outward,
drunk with eternal wine, is chanting a melody
in the presence of the Sayyid sublime, 2770
noble of nobles, commander of Persia,
whose hand is the architect of the destiny of nations.
Ghazali himself learned the lesson of God is He
and drew meditation and thought from his stock.
Guide he of that emerald land, 2875
counsellor of prince and dervish and sultan;
a king ocean-munificent, to that vale
he gave science, crafts, education, religion.
That man created a miniature Iran
with rare and heart-ravishing arts; 2880
with one glance he unravels a hundred knots—
rise, and let his arrow transfix your heart.’