016

Although the Angel dwells beyond The talisman of the skies, Yet on this hand of dust in fond Affection rest his eyes.

Think not upon one fashion goes The game of love forlorn; Sane are the tulip and the rose And yet their robe is torn.

The tale of passion told may be Where the Friend sojourneth Alone, with a lament that’s free Of all defiling breath.

So from a star a man may clutch The apple of its eye; Mind is a falcon at his touch Eager and swift to fly.

Unveil thy face; for He Who spake, “Thou shalt not gaze on Me” A hand of dust in view to take Still waiteth patiently.

Who sang within the flowery mead? Say, whence his anthem came That lo! the rosebud hides her head, The roses blush for shame.

017

Where is the Arab, to revive The old night revelry, And where the Persian, to bring alive The love lute’s minstrelsy?

Under the Sufi elder’s gown The flagon is bare and dry; Alas, for none can tell in the town Where young red wine’s to buy.

Every man in this grassy mead Fashions and takes his rest, But where is he, ah, where indeed, Who will make, and burn, his nest?

A thousand caravan trains have stared Like a stranger, and then passed on, But he that close as a lover dared To gaze—is there anyone?

Rise like a wave, and surging flow In the ocean eternally? Thou seek’st the shore, and dost not know Where ever the shore may be.

Hither (for in thy tendril’s vein The fresh young blood doth bound) Hither hasten, nor ask again Where the Magian wine is found.

Twist into one vast war‐array All ages that ever were; Later and sooner are passed away; Where now is Time, ah, where?

018

Rise like the morning air And learn to blow again; Tulip and rose are fair; Play gently with their train; Deep in the rosebud’s heart Learn how to stab thy dart.

Though ermine wraps thy breast, Thou tremblest listlessly; This way thou shiverest Will nothing profit thee; In the assembly learn With love to shake, and burn.

Faithless! thy heart astray Once more upon Him bind; Break from all else away, Nor unto self be blind; Learn with thy eyes to view, And how to close them, too.

Breath is a messenger, Unheard its message told; Thy dust a vision clear, Yet thou canst not behold; Learn once again to see, And hearing get for thee!

No falcon’s heart of rage We have, no eagle’s eye; Like homebirds in a cage We lack the joy to fly; Homebirds encaged! arise, And soar into the skies.

Darius’ royal throne Men sell not by the way; That mighty mount of stone They barter not for hay; Learn with thy own heart’s blood To purchase thee this good.

Thou weep’st; yet Destiny Unchanging doth abide; The chain that circleth thee Was aye as firmly tied; Despair not, but anew Learn how to weep for rue.

Art thou consumed? Take flame Out of thy heart’s desire And wrap thee in the same, And set the reeds afire; Along the stubble learn To run a torch, and burn!

019

Little flower fast asleep, Rise narcissus like, and peep; Lo, the bower droops and dies Wasted by cold griefs; arise!

Now that birdsong fills the air And muezzins call to prayer, Listen to the burning sighs Of the passionate hearts, and rise! Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise!

Now the sun, that doth adorn With his rays the brow of morn, Doth suffuse the cheeks thereof With the crimson blush of love.

Over mountain, over plain Caravans take route again; Bright and world beholding eyes, Gaze upon the world, and rise! Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise!

All the Orient doth lie Like strewn dust, the roadway by, Or a still and bushed lament And a wasted sigh and spent:

Yet each atom of this earth Is a gaze of tortured birth. Under Ind’s and Persia’s skies, Through Arabia’s plains, O rise! Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise!

See, thy ocean is at rest, Slumbrous as a desert waste; Yea, no waxing or increase E’er disturbs thy ocean’s peace.

Ne’er thy ocean knoweth storm Or Leviathan’s dread swarm: Rend its breast and, billow‐wise Swelling into tumult, rise! Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise!

Listen to this subtlety That reveals all mystery: Empire is the body’s dust; Spirit, true Religion’s trust;

Body lives and spirit lives By the life their union gives. Lance in hand, and sword at thighs, Cloaked, and with thy prayer mat, rise! Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise!

Thou art true and worshipful Guardian of eternal Rule, Thou the left hand and the right Of the World possessor’s might.

Shackled slave of earthy race, Thou art Time, and thou art Space: Wine of faith that fear defies Drink, and from doubt’s prison rise! Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise!

Against Europe I protest, And the attraction of the West: Woe for Europe and her charm, Swift to capture and disarm!

Europe’s hordes with flame and fire Desolate the world entire; Architect of Sanctuaries, Earth awaits rebuilding; rise Out of leaden sleep, Out of slumber deep Arise! Out of slumber deep Arise

020

Our world is dusty clay Trampled upon the way; I do not think our breath Returneth out of death.

This night, whose only home Is in the strangers’ tomb, No moon, no stars here burn; To dawn how shall it turn?

The heart, whose whole desire I quenchless flame and fire, Who knows, if it shall grow To lightning flash, or glow?

High fancy, passion’s glance, And life’s exuberance, Fear not, for these all three Dust of the road shall be.

So live, that if our death For aye continueth, God shall be shamed, to know What things He wrought below.