Be Drunk in Love Since Love Is Everything That Exists
Ghazal 4551
4807 (Regarding) the spirit that isn't (wearing) real love (as its)
inner garment,2 (its) never having existed (is) better, since its
existence isn't (anything) other than a shameful dishonor.
Be drunk in love, since love is everything that exists. Without the
occupation and trading3 of love there isn't (any) door4 to the
Beloved.
It is said, "What is love?" Say, "Giving up free will." There isn't
(any) free will5 (for) anyone who hasn't let go of free will,
4810 The lover (of God) is a king of kings (with) this world and
the next6 scattered before him; there isn't any attention (on the
part) of the king toward (such) scattering.
It is love and it is the lover that are enduring for time without end;
don't put (anything) except this upon (your) heart,7 since it isn't but
(something) borrowed.8
You can't embrace a dead lover (for long), (so) embrace the soul
that isn't embraced (by anything).
That which was born from Spring will die in the time of Autumn.
(But) there isn't (any need of) help from the beginning of Spring
for the rosebush of Love.
(As for) the rose that is (brought forth) from Spring, its companion
is the thorn. And (regarding) the wine that is (made) from crushed
grapes, it isn't without headache and hangover.
4815 On this Path9 don't be (someone who is) a talker about
looking around and expecting (something). For by God, there isn't
any worse death than (anxious) expectancy!10
Rush to the pure coin if you aren't counterfeit.11 Activate your ear
(to hear) this subtle point if there isn't a (slave's) earring (on you).12
Don't tremble upon the horse of the body, (but) be lighter (going)
on foot; God will give wings13 to the one who isn't a rider upon the
body.
Abandon worry14 and become completely pure of heart, like the
mirror's (pure) face that isn't (tarnished) by engravings and
pictures;
When (it) has become pure of pictures,15 all pictures are within it,
(and) that pure-faced one isn't embarrassed16 by the face of any
person.
4820 Do you want yourself (to be) pure of defect? (Then) look
toward Him who isn't ashamed or afraid of speaking the truth.17
Since the iron-faced (mirror)18 obtained this talent and skill from
purity,19 (consider) to what extent the heart's face will gain that isn't
(covered by) dust!
4822 I said, "What may it gain?" No, I will not speak (further);
silence is better20--so that the beloved won't say, "He isn't a keeper
of secrets."21
--From The Dîwân-é Kabîr (also known as "Kulliyat-é Shams" and
"Dîwân-é Shams-é Tabrîz") of Jalaluddin Rumi.
Translated from the Persian by Ibrahim Gamard, 8/6/04
© Ibrahim Gamard (translation, footnotes, & transliteration)
Notes on the text, with line number:
1Ghazal 455: Compare to the translations by R.A. Nicholson,
"Selected Poems from the Divani Shamsi Tabriz," 1898, no. XIII,
pp. 51-53; by A.J. Arberry, "Mystical Poems of Rumi," 1968, no.
54, pp. 48-49; by Nevit Ergin, "Dîvân-i Kebîr, Meter 4" (Volume
4), 1996, no 21, pp. 43-44.
2(4807) inner garment [shi`âr]: means a long undershirt, worn under
one's robe. This word also means manner, habit, custom, practice,
profession.
3(4808) occupation and trading [kâr-o bâr]: literally, "labor and
produce." An idiom meaning business transactions.
4(4808) door [bâr]: means the curtain at the door of a pavilion, an
idiom for entrance. This is a pun with "occupation and trading"
[kâr-o bâr] in the same line. It is also a word-play with "to" [bar].
5(4809) free will [ikhtiyâr]: the essence of Islam (literally,
"surrender") is submission to the Divine Will. According to
Islamic mysticism (sufism), the mystic attains freedom by giving
up all personal will, because then all of one's actions are Divinely
guided.
6(4810) this world and the next [dô `âlam]: literally, "the two
worlds." Means this world and the Hereafter.
7(4811) put... upon [bar...ma-heh]: an idiom meaning, "Don't reflect
upon," "Don't consider."
8(4811) borrowed [musta`âr]: also means metaphorical, fictitious.
9(4815) Path: means the sufi way of religious-mystical wisdom that
leads to spiritual transformation.
10(4815) expecting [muntaZir], expectancy [intiZâr]: see the
following verses from the Masnavi translated by Nicholson: "Lo,
the world has been left nailed fast in night, (while) day is waiting
expectantly [muntaZir], depending on the sun." (I: 2501) "Here is
(the place for) a story (worthy) of consideration, but the man of
Bukhara has become desperate from waiting expectantly
[intiZaar]" (III: 4604) "Then the minister threw him into (the pains
of) expectation [intiZaar]: winter and December passed and spring
came. In expectation [intiZaar] of it (the reward) the poet grew old;
then he was crushed by this anxiety and making shift to provide
(the means of livelihood), /And said (to the vizier), 'If there is no
gold (for me), please give me abuse, so that my soul may be
delivered (from expectation) (and that) I may be thy (devoted)
slave. Expectation [intiZaar] has killed me: at least bid me go, that
this wretched soul may be delivered from bondage.'" (IV: 1222-25)
"O Ayaz, finish this affair quickly, for expectation [intiZaar] is a
sort of vengeance." (V: 2133)
11(4816) counterfeit [qalb]: means counterfeit coin, and also "heart."
This is a pun on "pure coin" [qalb].
12(4816) a (slave's) earring: slaves wore an earring for identification.
The meaning here is a base, ignoble, crude person.
13(4817) God will give wings: "--this metaphor explains itself. Let
the soul refuse to be led astray by the senses, that she may soar up
to God on the wings of love." (Nicholson, commentary in
"Selected Poems from the Divani Shamsi Tabriz")
14(4818) Abandon worry: "--not only worldly thoughts, but also
intellectual apprehensions and all operations of the mind."
(Nicholson, commentary in "Selected Poems from the Divani
Shamsi Tabriz")
15(4819) pure of pictures: "--when the soul has thoroughly purified
and emptied herself of sensible forms and images, she will be
transformed to the pure and simple light and there dwell in a state
of perfection." (Nicholson, commentary in "Selected Poems from
the Divani Shamsi Tabriz")
16(4819) isn't embarrassed: means that the mirror is not shy of reflecting what is before it.
17(4820) the truth: a reference to the verse, "...but God isn't
ashamed about speaking the truth." (Qur'an 33:53)
18(4821) iron-faced (mirror): mirrors used to be made of polished
iron, which was very subject to becoming rusted.
19(4821) Since the iron-faced (mirror) obtained this... from purity:
see Masnavi I: 34, "Do you know why your mirror reveals
nothing? Because the rust is not separated from its face!"
20(4822) Silence [khamosh] is better: Rumi frequently refers to
silence in the last line of his ghazals.
21(4822) a keeper of secrets: "--the heart cannot reveal the
bewildering rapture of divine knowledge, whereas the mirror is a
tell-tale." (Nicholson, commentary in "Selected Poems from the
Divani Shamsi Tabriz")
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4807 ân rûH-râ ke ishq-é Haqîqî shi`âr nêst
nâbûda beh, ke bûdan-é ô ghayr-é `âr nêst
dar `ishq bâsh mast ke `ishq-ast har che hast
bê-kâr-o bâr-é `ishq bar-é dôst bâr nêst
gôy-and: "`ishq chîst?" be-gô: "tark-é ikhtiyâr"
har k-ô ze ikhtiyâr na-rast ikhtiyâr nêst
4810 `âshiq shahenshahê-st dô `âlam bar-ô niSâr
hêch iltifât-é shâh ba-sôy-é niSâr nêst
`ishq-ast-o `âshiq-ast ke bâqî-st tâ abad
del bar joz-în ma-neh ke ba-joz musta`âr nêst
tâ kay kenâr gîr-î ma`shûq-é morda-râ?
jân-râ kenâr gîr ke ô-râ kenâr nêst
ân k-az bahâr zâd be-mîr-ad gah-é khazân
gol-zâr-é `ishq-râ madad az naw-bahâr nêst
ân gol ke az bahâr bow-ad khâr yâr-é ô-st
w-ân may ke az `aSîr bow-ad bê-khomâr nêst
4815 naZZâra-gû ma-bâsh dar-în râh-o muntaZir
w-allâh ke hêch marg batar z-intiZâr nêst
bar naqd-é qalb zan tô agar qalb nêst-î
în nokta gôsh kon agar-at gôsh-wâr nêst
bar asp-é tan ma-larz sabak-tar peyâda shû
parr-ash deh-ad khodây ke bar tan sowâr nêst
andêsha-râ rahâ kon-o del-sâda shû tamâm
chûn rôy-é âyena ke ba-naqsh-o negâr nêst
chûn sâda shod ze-naqsh hama naqsh-hâ dar-ô-st
ân sâda-rô ze-rôy-é kasê sharm-sâr nêst
4820 az `ayb sâda khwâh-î khwod-râ? dar-ô negar
k-ô-râ ze-râst-gôyî sharm-o HaZâr nêst
chûn rôy-é âhanîn ze-Safâ în honar be-yâft
tâ rôy-é del che yâb-ad ke ô-râ ghubâr nêst
4822 gôy-am: "che yâb-ad ô?" neh, na-gôy-am, khamosh beh-ast
tâ del-setân na-gôy-ad ke "ô râz-dâr nêst"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meter 4: XXo XoXo oXXo XoX
(muZâri` akhrab makfûf maHdhûf )
