Neyestan

Rumi, a Persian poet, says that our greatest longing is to return to our roots, to return home, to unite with the highest within. He opens his greatest masterpiece, Mathnawî-yé Ma`nawî, which means “Rhyming Couplets of Deep Spiritual Meaning,” as follows:

1. Listen to the (Ney) reed flute, how it is complaining! ***
It is telling about separations,

2. (Saying), "Ever since I was severed from the (Neyestan) reed field, *** men and women have lamented in (the presence of) my shrill cries.

3. "(But) I want a heart (which is) torn, torn from separation, ***
so that I may explain the pain of yearning."

4. "Anyone one who has remained far from his roots, ***
seeks a return (to the) time of his union.

5. "I lamented in every gathering; ***
I associated with those in bad or happy circumstances.

6. "(But) everyone became my friend from his (own) opinion; ***
he did not seek my secrets from within me.

7. "My secret is not far from my lament, ***
but eyes and ears do not have the light (to sense it).

8. "The body is not hidden from the soul, nor the soul from the
body; *** but seeing the soul is not permitted."

9. The reed's cry is fire -- it's not wind! ***
Whoever doesn't have this fire, may he be nothing!

10. It is the fire of Love that fell into the reed. ***
(And) it is the ferment of Love that fell into the wine.

11. The reed (is) the companion of anyone who was severed from a
friend; *** its melodies tore our veils.

12. Who has seen a poison and a remedy like the reed? ***
Who has seen a harmonious companion and a yearning friend like
the reed?

13. The reed is telling the story of the path full of blood; ***
it is telling stories of Majnoon's (crazed) love.

14. There is no confidant (of) this understanding except the
senseless! *** There is no purchaser of that tongue except the ear
[of the mystic.]

15. In our longing, the days became (like) evenings; ***
the days became fellow-travellers with burning fevers.

16. If the days have passed, tell (them to) go, (and) don't worry.
*** (But) You remain! -- O You, whom no one resembles in
Purity!

17. Everyone becomes satiated by water, except the fish. ***
(And) everyone who is without daily food [finds that] his days
become long.

18. None (who is) "raw" can understand the state of the "ripe." ***
Therefore, (this) speech must be shortened. So farewell!

19. O son, break the chains (and) be free! ***
How long will you be shackled to silver and gold?

20. If you pour the sea into a jug, ***
how much will it contain? (Just) one day's portion.

21. The jug of the eye of the greedy will never be filled. ***
(And) as long as the oyster is not content, it will never be filled by
a pearl.

22. Anyone (whose) robe is torn from love, ***
becomes completely purified from greed and defect.

23. Be joyous! O our sweet melancholy Love! ***
O doctor of all our diseases!

24. O Medicine of our pride and vanity! ***
O you (are) our Plato and (our) Galen!

25. The earthly body went up to the heavens from Love! ***
The mountain began to dance and became agile!

26. O lover! Love became the soul of Mount Sinai! ***
Mount Sinai (became) drunk "and Moses fell down senseless"!

27. If I were joined with the lip of a harmonious companion, ***
I (too) would utter speeches like the reed!

28. (But) anyone who becomes separated from one of the same
tongue *** becomes without a tongue, even if he has a hundred
songs [to share].

29. When the rose has gone and the garden has passed away, ***
you will no longer hear from the nightingale (about) what
happened.

30. The Beloved is All, and the lover (is merely) a veil; ***
the Beloved is Living, and the lover (is merely) a co**se.

31. When Love has no concern for him, ***
he is left like a bird without wings. Misery for him!

32. How can I have awareness of before and behind, ***
when the Light of my Beloved is no (longer) before and behind?

33. Love wants these words to manifest. ***
(But) how is it that the mirror reveals nothing?

34. Do you know why your mirror reveals nothing? ***
Because the rust is not separated from its face!

--Translated by Ibrahim Gamard