Robert Bridges, ed. (1844–1930). The Spirit of Man: An Anthology. 1916. | | | | Sufi poem |
Jellaludin (1207–1273) |
| | | GRASP 1 the Skirt of his Grace, for on a sudden He will flee away: | |
| But draw Him not impatiently to thee, lest He fly as an arrow from the bow. | |
| What shape will He not assume? What shifts He employeth! | |
| If He be apprehended in Form, He will flee by way of the Spirit: | |
| If thou seek Him in the sky, He will gleam in the water like the moon: | 5 |
| If thou go into the water, He fleeth to the sky: | |
| If thou seek Him in the spaceless, He beckoneth to Space: | |
| When thou seekest Him in Space, He fleeth to the spaceless…. | |
| His Name will flee, the while thou mouldest thy lips for speech: | |
| Thou may’st not even say, Such an one will flee: | 10 |
| He will flee from thee, so that if thou paint his picture, | |
| The picture will flee from the tablet, and his features from thy soul. | |
| | | Note 1. Jellaludin. The greatest Sufi poet of Islam. Born at Balkh 1207. He wrote in Persian. [See 19.] [back] | | |
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