Special
thanks to 
Search the Republic of Rumi
|
Chapter 83
Sixteen Poems
The first half of Gabriel’s Wing begins with a cluster of poems addressed to God.
There are sixteen poems here. As such they cannot be divided into five, seven or nine. However, since this is the beginning of the fourth wisdom, you may try dividing them into four sets. Each set will consist of four poems – another indicator that you are in the fourth zone of the Garden.
Together, they present a monologue of human consciousness through the Creation, the Fall and various stages of history up to the modern times.
Poems 1-4
My passionate voice brings commotion in the precinct of the Divine Essence, and strikes terror in the idol-house of Attributes.
Give my heart no time to agitate: add a curl or two to your tress!
Poems 5-8
What avails love when life is so ephemeral? What avails a mortal’s love for the immortal?
Contrary runs our planet, the stars whirl fast, oh Saki!
In every atom’s heart a Doomsday blast, oh Saki!Poems 9-12
My Saki set me free from this illusive world by making me drink the wine No god but He.
Do you not remember my heart of old? That school of Love, and flogging by the eye!
Poems 13-16
You are still indifferent and I am far from my destiny. My excellence in the art of playing flute was of no avail to me.
Reason is either driven by illumination or by proofs. Proof-seeking reason ends in wonderment.
The first cluster has turned out to be similar to the first chamber of the Temple of Modern David in Persian Psalms – at least in some ways.
- Is this a monologue from the collective consciousness or from the Poet?
- Does that make a difference?
- How does this relate to the “Wisdom of Love”?
- “Give my heart no time to agitate: add a curl or two to your tress!” This couplet first appeared in Persian Psalms. It turned up again in Javidnama and here it has appeared in Urdu translation. Can there be a reason why it is being repeated so often?
 |
You have reached the end of this chapter. You may like to discuss it before reading the next.
|
|
Search the Republic of Rumi
|
A set of sixteen poems with some similarities to the first section of Persian Psalms.
