The Festival of Spring, from the Díván of Jeláleddín: Rendered in English Gazels after Rückert's Versions, with an Introduction and a Criticism of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám — Rumi — John Shaqi
The Festival of Spring, from the Díván of Jeláleddín: Rendered in English Gazels after Rückert's Versions, with an Introduction and a Criticism of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám
Rumi · en
All Unbelief is Midnight, but Faith the Night-Lamp's glow;
Then see that no Thief cometh to steal thy Lamp when low.
Our Hope is for the Sunlight, from which the Lamp did shine;
The Light from which it kindled, still feeds its flame below.
But when the Sun hath risen, both Night and Lamp go out;
And Unbelief and Faith then, the higher Vision know.
O Night! Why art thou dreaming? O Lamp! Why flickerest so?
The swift Sun-horses panting, from East their fire-foam throw.
'Tis Night still in the shadow; the village Lamp burns dim;
But in Dawn's Splendour towering, the Peaks Heaven's Glory show.
Dawn
V.
The Day has dawned, thy festal Day, O Rose;
Our cheeks all glow in thy bright Ray, O Rose.
Love was the Gardener of the Rose-bed there;
And now thy Flower blooms forth all gay, O Rose.
When Herald Breezes blew: _The Rose!_ the Flowers
Kneeling to thee glad Homage pay, O Rose.
The Tulips danced; the Lilies, drinking there,
Their brightest hues to thee display, O Rose.
The Cypress whispered to the Ivy: Wake!
Why dream'st thou, Child? She dreamed thy Play, O Rose;
The Nightingale a thousand long nights through
But trilled thy own sweet Melody, O Rose.
The Heavens more fair assume thy radiant form,
But thou outviest their Phantasy, O Rose.
The Rose a message brings from Paradise
Where Souls for thee all eager stay, O Rose.
The Rose brings greeting to the Soul from Home;
The Soul forgets thee not for aye, O Rose.
The Rose unfolds the Sign of Beauty there:
God's Seal Himself the Poets say, O Rose.
The Soul crowns all Man's festal Cup of Joy;
That he with thee may breathe Life's May, O Rose.
The Rose is twined in all Life's gladdest Bonds,
That Love from Man ne'er flee away, O Rose.
Be closed in Buds thy Lips; but there let shine
The Smile that ever in thee lay, O Rose.
Allah Hu!
VI.
Sound Drum and mellow Flute, resounding: ALLAH HU[25]!
Dance, ruddy Dawn, in Gladness bounding: ALLAH HU!
Sun exalted in the Centre, O thou streaming Light;
Soul of all wheeling Planets rounding: ALLAH HU!
O Hearts! O Worlds! how soon your Dancing all would stop,
Did not His Power sustain astounding! ALLAH HU!
Love mazy, winding, changing, all embraces,
The Night, the Dawn, the Day, resounding: ALLAH HU!
Boom, Sea! on Shore, and Rock, thy Music praising God;
O Nightingale to Rose trill, sounding: ALLAH HU!
O Soul, what if one Star should falter in the Dance?
His Will is Order ever founding: ALLAH HU!
Who knows Love's mazy circling, ever lives in God;
For Death, he knows, is Love abounding: ALLAH HU!
[25] HE is GOD.
Spring
VII.