Friday, July 31, 2009

JUST BECAUSE




"If you are a man of this life" -- Ghazal 3277


if you are a man of this life

then march on this path like a man

or retire and take refuge in your house since

you're not ready for this battle

real men drank a thousand seas

and still died of thirst

you only had a cup

yet boasted of overflowing

you claimed to reach your quest

you'll raise all the dustyet you've travelled

no distance you've left no mark

now humbly turn to dust

under the gallop of real men

then you'll rise and

become a part of their journey

if you crawl for years on the path of your quest

do not yield to grief

do not submit to distress--

Ode (Ghazal) 3277

Translated by Nader Khalili

Rumi: Fountain of FireCal-Earth Press, 1994


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