Religion

Self-Realisation

by Jalal al-Din Rumi 1207–1273

Translated by William Hastie, after Rückert's German (1903) · From The Festival of Spring (1903)

Religion

When I knew myself a Thorn, soft Rose-buds' Swell
I sought for then;
When I saw myself all bitter, sweet Honey's Cell
I sought for then.
When I saw myself all Poison, I quaffed Life's Stream
as Antidote;
When I saw myself Lees turbid, Wine's clear Foam Bell
I sought for then.
When I saw myself all sour Fruit, I caught the ripening
Sunbeams' Glow;
When I saw myself droop feebly, the breezy Fell
I sought for then.
When I saw myself all blinded, the healing Power
of Jesus' Hand;
When I knew it could the Darkness from my Eyes dispel
I sought for then.
Love's Touch became my Eyesalve, and all my Soul's
dull Blindness fled;
And, my Heart of Thirst a-dying, His sweet, pure Well
I sought for then.
I am Fire that never burneth; and thou, the Wind
that makes it burn;
O thou Wind, with my Fire playing, aye in me dwell:
I sought for then.

MLA

Rumi, Jalal al-Din. “Self-Realisation.” Translated by William Hastie, after Rückert's German. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rumi/78/.

Chicago

Rumi, Jalal al-Din. “Self-Realisation.” Translated by William Hastie, after Rückert's German. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rumi/78/.

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