...
There was a time we lost ourselves in others,
a time we ate the best of foods.
There was time we relied on the intellect,
a time we looked for fortune
but all this had no value in the end.
.
For a mouthful of food and some bitter herbs
we went everywhere,
we made so many plans
one day it was Rome,
the next day it was Africa.
.
We entered a raging battlefield, for what?
a few crumbs of bread.
.
Lose your soul in God's love, I swear
there is no other way.
.
Stay with that silence.
I once ran toward the knowledge of this world;
now the papers are packed, the pens are broken
O Saaqi, bring on the wine!
.
~ Rumi
from A Garden Beyond Paradise
version by Jonathan Star
.
