Religion
While the Lovers Circle Here in Mystic Dance
Translated by E. J. W. Gibb (1905) · From A History of Ottoman Poetry, vol. IV (1905)
While the lovers circle here in mystic dance,
Sun and moon traverse the sphere in mystic dance.
Love's deep secret made the spheric heavens reel;
All the worlds do still appear in mystic dance.
E'en as 'twere a whirlpool shows the weeping eye,
Casting pearls and spray as clear in mystic dance.
Youthful Magians sweet about the Tavern go,
Like as pilgrims round in fere in mystic dance.
Lo, the reed ecstatic thrills, the Heavenly Birds
Dove-like beat their plumy gear in mystic dance.
I am yonder vagrant Qays upon whose head
Whiles the nests do leap and rear in mystic dance.
Ghalib, while the Sun of Love doth radiance pour,
Mevlevis will mote-like veer in mystic dance.
Codex Note
A ghazel on the sema, the mystic whirling dance of the Mevlevi dervishes, in which the heavens and the lovers turn together. Gibb's notes explain the sema and the 'Heavenly Birds' who are moved by the Mevlevi reed-flute.
Cite this poem
MLA
Şeyh Galip. “While the Lovers Circle Here in Mystic Dance.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/galib/0/.
Chicago
Şeyh Galip. “While the Lovers Circle Here in Mystic Dance.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/galib/0/.
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