Religion
Many Faiths, One Lord
Translated by William Hastie, after Rückert's German (1903) · From The Festival of Spring (1903)
Our House has many Doors indeed,
But all to One Lord inward lead.
And all who reach this Lord must pray,
With Forehead on the Ground, and plead.
And many in the House born blind,
The Lord's commands yet hear and heed.
The Lame there too can Service give,
They all perform House Tasks at need.
Yea, even the Wind with panting Breath,
Comes in, the Hearth's low Fire to feed.
Each one must do his Part as bid,
No one can choose his Share or Deed.
Yet many deem them free, nor know
The Bond that binds them firm decreed.
But if thou humbly bear thy Bond,
It holds a Crown of Flowers in Seed.
Plight Troth, and Grace will answer Sure,
For Love's Vow seals the highest Creed.
Servant! To Fellow-servants shew
The lowly Mien no Hate will breed.
Forbearing be! Thy Over-Lord
No Pleasure hath in Pride or Greed.
Can one e'er claim to enter bold
Who Entrance never would concede?
Who dares to haggle with the Master,
He drives them from His Doors with Speed.
Cite this poem
MLA
Rumi, Jalal al-Din. “Many Faiths, One Lord.” Translated by William Hastie, after Rückert's German. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/rumi/82/.
Chicago
Rumi, Jalal al-Din. “Many Faiths, One Lord.” Translated by William Hastie, after Rückert's German. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/rumi/82/.
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