Thief of Sleep
Last night I saw Him seated in a gathering.
I could not hold Him in my arms,
So I placed my face near His as an excuse,
As if I were whispering some holy words in his ear.
-1012UT
I look at the Beloved, and His face turns red.
And if I don't look He causes my heart to ache.
In the pool of His face stars are visible
Without His water, my water is nothing but mud.
-479UT
You said "How are you?" Come, for I am as happy
as daylight.
Like day, I bring an end to myself, and in joy I start all
over again.
When I saw your fiery face I became like a wild rue
Burning in your flames, burning, I am burning so joyfully.
-1026UT
RUMI
(Rending the Veil: Literal and Poetic Translations of Rumi,
by Shahram Shiva; Holm Press,
1995)