THE CANDLE AND THE POET
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THE CANDLE AND THE POET
(February 1912)
THE POET
Last night I said to the candle of my desolate house
“Your hair gets combed by the wings of the moth
In the world I am like the lamp of the wilderness’ tulip
I am neither in an assembly’s lot, nor in a house’ fortune
Since a long time I am also burning my breath like you
Though I am circling the flame no moth has hit its wing
Many an effulgence is crammed in my life of unfulfilled desires
Not a single loving heart rises in this assembly
From where have you acquired this world‐illuminating fire?
You have infused the love of Kalim in the poor insect”!
The Candle
“The blow of breath which gives me the message of death
By the same blow of breath your lip is melodious
I am alight because burning is built into my nature
You are alight so that the moths may have the love of yours
I am weeping because a flood gushes forth from my heart
You shed dew so that garden’s assembly may sing praises yours
My morning is adorned with the roses from my night’s toil
Your tomorrow is unaware of the today of yours
Though you are lightened your are devoid of the inner heat
Like the lamp of the wilderness’ tulip is the flame of yours
Just think if cup‐bearer’s title is appropriate for you
Assembly is thirsty and the wine‐measure is empty of yours
Your ways are different, the law of the Millat is different
Your mirror has been disgraced by the ugly appearance of yours
With the Ka’bah by your side you are temple’s lover
How rebellious is the irresponsible love of yours
That Qais be produced in your assembly is not possible
Your wilderness is straitened, without Lailah is the litter of yours
O brilliant pearl! O the one reared in the wave’s lap
Unacquainted with the taste of storms is the ocean of yours
Why are you singing now? your garden is in disorder!
Your singing is out of place, your music is out of season
Those who were anxious for the Spectacle have departed
Your coming now with general Sighting’s promise matters little
Those old ardent lovers of wine are gone from the assembly
O cub‐bearer! Your coming now in assembly
with strong wine in the cup matters little
Ah! When the rose garden’s organization has already got disorganized
If the flower got the message of spring breeze matters little
The lover’s condition was worth seeing at the night’s end
The Beloved’s arrival early in the morning matters little
Extinguished is the flame which was every moth’s objective
If some pursuer of perfect love came now it matters little
The flowers do not care, you may or may not sing
The caravan is callous, the bell may or may not ring
If devoid of love’s warmth you remained even as assembly’s candle
Your moths also unacquainted with this taste remained
If you could string them together on the thread of Love
Then why did the beads of your rosary scattered remain?
Gone is the courageous Love, gone is the sublime thinking
In your assembly neither the insane nor the sages remain
Gone is that burning of Love, gone is that heart’s pathos
What good it is if the moths round the candle did remain?
Very well, the cup‐bearer you may be, whom will you serve wine
Now neither those wine‐drinkers nor those taverns did remain
Today a broken decanter is crying for the cup‐bearer
Whose goblets in circulation till yesterday did remain
Today are silent those Love‐cherishing expanses
Where Layla and her lovers dancing did remain
How disappointing! The caravan’s wealth is gone
The feeling of loss from caravan’s heart is gone
With whose activities the wilderness was once flourishing
Their cities are wiped out, habitations desolate have became
The prayers which established the grandeur of Tawhid
Those prayers offerings to Brahman in India have become
In this world ever‐lasting comfort on laws’ observance depends
To the ocean wave freedoms prelude to lamentation have become
The Manifestation Itself was longing for whose eyes
Those eyes despaired of Aiman’s light have become
Thousands of nightingales were flying about in the rose‐garden
What happened to them that they confined to the nests have become?
In the celestial expanse whose lightning power was panoramic
Those lightning’s satiated with the barn’s sides have become
Why should the blood letting eye ingratiated to the rose garden be?
With continuous tears the eyes fully satiated with embers have become
However, the grief’s night gives the message of ‘Eid’s morning
In the darkness of the night the ray of hope has appeared
Glad tidings, O cup‐bearer of the tavern of Hijaz
After ages your rinds have regained consciousness
Wealth of self‐respect was the price for other’s wine
Now your shop is again full of calls for the carousal
About to break is the magic of India’s white faced masters
Again the Sulaima’s eye is the harbinger of clamor’s message
There is clamor again for cup‐bearer to bring the home‐made wine
As the heart’s uproars have been silenced by the West’s wine
Sing because this is not the time for silence
The dawn’s sky is shouldering the sun like decanter
Burn in sympathy with others and also make others burn
Listen if you can, a bright Hadith has been conveyed to you
Ancestors have said that poetry is a part of prophethood
Yes, convey to the Millat the glad tidings of the Messenger Angel!
Awaken the eye with the promise of the Beloved’s Sight
Bring the heart to life with the warmth of speech’s skill
Your love for indulgence became a robber of courage
You were an ocean in wilderness, in garden a brook you became
When you stood firm in your purity, you had the nation also
Caravan of fragrance after leaving the rose scattered became
The life of the drop has lessons of the secrets of life
Sometimes pearl, sometimes dew, sometimes tear it became
Obtain it from somewhere it is a great wealth
What good is life if the heart unaware of bosom became
Your honor depended upon the organization of the Millat
When this organization departed, disgraced world wide you became
The individual is firm by nation’s coherence, otherwise nothing
The wave is only in the ocean, and outside it is nothing
Keep the love concealed in your heart’s veil still
That is do not disgrace your wine like the decanter
Pitch your tent in the Valley of Sinai like Kalim
Make the Truth’s flame destroyer of home’s comfort
The candle should also know the result of atrocities
Make the moth’s ashes restorer of the morning
If you are self‐respecting be not obliged to the cup‐bearer
In the ocean’s midst turn the goblet up side down like the bubble
No joy remains in the old mountains and wilderness
Your love is new, you should create new wilderness
If the destiny has destroyed you completely
From downfall make a new rod like the seed Yes!
Build your nest again on the same old branch
Make the rose garden’s residents martyrs of the song of intoxication
In this garden be the nightingale’s follower or rose’ pupil
Either be all complaint or do not produce any music
Why are you silent in the garden like dew’s retreat
Open your lips, you are the music of the world’s harp!
Become somewhat acquainted with your own reality O farmer!
The grain, the cultivation, the rain, as well as the produce you are
Ah! Whose search keeps you aimlessly wandering
The path, the traveler, the guide, as well as the destination you are
Why is your heart trembling with the fear of the storm?
The sailor, the ocean, the boat, as well as the sea‐shore you are
Come and look some time in the lane of the torn collars
Qais, Lailah, the wilderness as well as the litter on the camel you are
Woe foolishness! You are in need of the cup‐bearer
The wine, the decanter, the cup‐bearer, as well as the assembly you are
Becoming a flame burn down the rubbish of Godlessness
Why are you afraid of the falsehood? The destroyer of falsehood also you are
O imprudent one! You are the essence of time’s mirror
The ultimate message of God in the world you are!
O imprudent one! Be aware of your own reality as
Though you are only a drop your reality is also like the boundless ocean
Why are you imprisoned in the spell of poor resources
Just look, concealed in you is also the storm’s power!
Your breast is custodian of the love’s message of the one
Who is Apparent as well as Hidden in the universe’ system
What conquers the whole world without sword and gun
If you understand the material is also in your mettle
O indolent One! Do you remember that covenant also?
On which Mount Faran till now is a silent witness
O ignorant one! Only you became contented with some flower buds
Otherwise in the rose‐garden there is also cure for the receiver’s small capacity!
The heart’s state is produced in the speech’s curtain
In decanter’s veil the wine is apparent as well as veiled
My fiery music has burnt me down
And this is the very means of my life!
Look into my breast for the secret of this fiery music
Look into heart’s mirror for destiny’s manifestation!
The sky will shine mirror‐like with the morning’s light
And the night’s darkness will be speeding away!
The spring breeze will be so melody inspiring
That flower‐bed’s silent fragrance will become melodious!
The garden’s afflicted ones will unite with other afflicted ones
The zephyr will become companion of the rose’ assembly!
My gentle spray of dew will produce warmth and music
Every flower‐bud of this garden will become appreciative of pathos!
You will see the result of the glory of the river’s flow
The restless wave itself will become its ankle’s chain!
The hearts will again recall the message of prostrations
The foreheads will become acquainted with the Harem’s dust
The hunter’s wailing will give material for the birds’ singing
Colored with flower‐picker’s blood the flower‐bud will became
Whatever the eye is seeing cannot be described by the lips
I am lost in amazement as to what the world will become!
The night will eventually disappear by sun’s appearance!
This garden will be filled with the Light of Tawhid!
[Translated by M.A.K. Khalil]
(February 1912)
THE POET
Last night I said to the candle of my desolate house
“Your hair gets combed by the wings of the moth
In the world I am like the lamp of the wilderness’ tulip
I am neither in an assembly’s lot, nor in a house’ fortune
Since a long time I am also burning my breath like you
Though I am circling the flame no moth has hit its wing
Many an effulgence is crammed in my life of unfulfilled desires
Not a single loving heart rises in this assembly
From where have you acquired this world‐illuminating fire?
You have infused the love of Kalim in the poor insect”!
The Candle
“The blow of breath which gives me the message of death
By the same blow of breath your lip is melodious
I am alight because burning is built into my nature
You are alight so that the moths may have the love of yours
I am weeping because a flood gushes forth from my heart
You shed dew so that garden’s assembly may sing praises yours
My morning is adorned with the roses from my night’s toil
Your tomorrow is unaware of the today of yours
Though you are lightened your are devoid of the inner heat
Like the lamp of the wilderness’ tulip is the flame of yours
Just think if cup‐bearer’s title is appropriate for you
Assembly is thirsty and the wine‐measure is empty of yours
Your ways are different, the law of the Millat is different
Your mirror has been disgraced by the ugly appearance of yours
With the Ka’bah by your side you are temple’s lover
How rebellious is the irresponsible love of yours
That Qais be produced in your assembly is not possible
Your wilderness is straitened, without Lailah is the litter of yours
O brilliant pearl! O the one reared in the wave’s lap
Unacquainted with the taste of storms is the ocean of yours
Why are you singing now? your garden is in disorder!
Your singing is out of place, your music is out of season
Those who were anxious for the Spectacle have departed
Your coming now with general Sighting’s promise matters little
Those old ardent lovers of wine are gone from the assembly
O cub‐bearer! Your coming now in assembly
with strong wine in the cup matters little
Ah! When the rose garden’s organization has already got disorganized
If the flower got the message of spring breeze matters little
The lover’s condition was worth seeing at the night’s end
The Beloved’s arrival early in the morning matters little
Extinguished is the flame which was every moth’s objective
If some pursuer of perfect love came now it matters little
The flowers do not care, you may or may not sing
The caravan is callous, the bell may or may not ring
If devoid of love’s warmth you remained even as assembly’s candle
Your moths also unacquainted with this taste remained
If you could string them together on the thread of Love
Then why did the beads of your rosary scattered remain?
Gone is the courageous Love, gone is the sublime thinking
In your assembly neither the insane nor the sages remain
Gone is that burning of Love, gone is that heart’s pathos
What good it is if the moths round the candle did remain?
Very well, the cup‐bearer you may be, whom will you serve wine
Now neither those wine‐drinkers nor those taverns did remain
Today a broken decanter is crying for the cup‐bearer
Whose goblets in circulation till yesterday did remain
Today are silent those Love‐cherishing expanses
Where Layla and her lovers dancing did remain
How disappointing! The caravan’s wealth is gone
The feeling of loss from caravan’s heart is gone
With whose activities the wilderness was once flourishing
Their cities are wiped out, habitations desolate have became
The prayers which established the grandeur of Tawhid
Those prayers offerings to Brahman in India have become
In this world ever‐lasting comfort on laws’ observance depends
To the ocean wave freedoms prelude to lamentation have become
The Manifestation Itself was longing for whose eyes
Those eyes despaired of Aiman’s light have become
Thousands of nightingales were flying about in the rose‐garden
What happened to them that they confined to the nests have become?
In the celestial expanse whose lightning power was panoramic
Those lightning’s satiated with the barn’s sides have become
Why should the blood letting eye ingratiated to the rose garden be?
With continuous tears the eyes fully satiated with embers have become
However, the grief’s night gives the message of ‘Eid’s morning
In the darkness of the night the ray of hope has appeared
Glad tidings, O cup‐bearer of the tavern of Hijaz
After ages your rinds have regained consciousness
Wealth of self‐respect was the price for other’s wine
Now your shop is again full of calls for the carousal
About to break is the magic of India’s white faced masters
Again the Sulaima’s eye is the harbinger of clamor’s message
There is clamor again for cup‐bearer to bring the home‐made wine
As the heart’s uproars have been silenced by the West’s wine
Sing because this is not the time for silence
The dawn’s sky is shouldering the sun like decanter
Burn in sympathy with others and also make others burn
Listen if you can, a bright Hadith has been conveyed to you
Ancestors have said that poetry is a part of prophethood
Yes, convey to the Millat the glad tidings of the Messenger Angel!
Awaken the eye with the promise of the Beloved’s Sight
Bring the heart to life with the warmth of speech’s skill
Your love for indulgence became a robber of courage
You were an ocean in wilderness, in garden a brook you became
When you stood firm in your purity, you had the nation also
Caravan of fragrance after leaving the rose scattered became
The life of the drop has lessons of the secrets of life
Sometimes pearl, sometimes dew, sometimes tear it became
Obtain it from somewhere it is a great wealth
What good is life if the heart unaware of bosom became
Your honor depended upon the organization of the Millat
When this organization departed, disgraced world wide you became
The individual is firm by nation’s coherence, otherwise nothing
The wave is only in the ocean, and outside it is nothing
Keep the love concealed in your heart’s veil still
That is do not disgrace your wine like the decanter
Pitch your tent in the Valley of Sinai like Kalim
Make the Truth’s flame destroyer of home’s comfort
The candle should also know the result of atrocities
Make the moth’s ashes restorer of the morning
If you are self‐respecting be not obliged to the cup‐bearer
In the ocean’s midst turn the goblet up side down like the bubble
No joy remains in the old mountains and wilderness
Your love is new, you should create new wilderness
If the destiny has destroyed you completely
From downfall make a new rod like the seed Yes!
Build your nest again on the same old branch
Make the rose garden’s residents martyrs of the song of intoxication
In this garden be the nightingale’s follower or rose’ pupil
Either be all complaint or do not produce any music
Why are you silent in the garden like dew’s retreat
Open your lips, you are the music of the world’s harp!
Become somewhat acquainted with your own reality O farmer!
The grain, the cultivation, the rain, as well as the produce you are
Ah! Whose search keeps you aimlessly wandering
The path, the traveler, the guide, as well as the destination you are
Why is your heart trembling with the fear of the storm?
The sailor, the ocean, the boat, as well as the sea‐shore you are
Come and look some time in the lane of the torn collars
Qais, Lailah, the wilderness as well as the litter on the camel you are
Woe foolishness! You are in need of the cup‐bearer
The wine, the decanter, the cup‐bearer, as well as the assembly you are
Becoming a flame burn down the rubbish of Godlessness
Why are you afraid of the falsehood? The destroyer of falsehood also you are
O imprudent one! You are the essence of time’s mirror
The ultimate message of God in the world you are!
O imprudent one! Be aware of your own reality as
Though you are only a drop your reality is also like the boundless ocean
Why are you imprisoned in the spell of poor resources
Just look, concealed in you is also the storm’s power!
Your breast is custodian of the love’s message of the one
Who is Apparent as well as Hidden in the universe’ system
What conquers the whole world without sword and gun
If you understand the material is also in your mettle
O indolent One! Do you remember that covenant also?
On which Mount Faran till now is a silent witness
O ignorant one! Only you became contented with some flower buds
Otherwise in the rose‐garden there is also cure for the receiver’s small capacity!
The heart’s state is produced in the speech’s curtain
In decanter’s veil the wine is apparent as well as veiled
My fiery music has burnt me down
And this is the very means of my life!
Look into my breast for the secret of this fiery music
Look into heart’s mirror for destiny’s manifestation!
The sky will shine mirror‐like with the morning’s light
And the night’s darkness will be speeding away!
The spring breeze will be so melody inspiring
That flower‐bed’s silent fragrance will become melodious!
The garden’s afflicted ones will unite with other afflicted ones
The zephyr will become companion of the rose’ assembly!
My gentle spray of dew will produce warmth and music
Every flower‐bud of this garden will become appreciative of pathos!
You will see the result of the glory of the river’s flow
The restless wave itself will become its ankle’s chain!
The hearts will again recall the message of prostrations
The foreheads will become acquainted with the Harem’s dust
The hunter’s wailing will give material for the birds’ singing
Colored with flower‐picker’s blood the flower‐bud will became
Whatever the eye is seeing cannot be described by the lips
I am lost in amazement as to what the world will become!
The night will eventually disappear by sun’s appearance!
This garden will be filled with the Light of Tawhid!
[Translated by M.A.K. Khalil]