026
I uttered a new word, But there was none that heard; Vision to rapture grew, But glance was none to view.
Be thou a stone, and pass Within these works of glass; Woe, stone to idol wrought That goblet shattered not!
Break down the old, and then Rebuild the world again; Who in “No God” remained Has ne’er “Except” attained.
O happy rivulet In selfhood passionate, Who to earth’s heart dost flee And flowest not so sea!
To Moses’ lesson list; For Europe’s scientist Though ocean’s depth he plumb, Could ne’er to Sinai come.
Love’s self learnt quivering’s art From this our trembling heart; Our spark it was that spired Until the moth expired.
027
Never lover true is he Who lamenteth dolefully; Lover he, who in his hold Hath the double world controlled.
Lover true is passionate Selfhood’s world to recreate, Not content to be enfurled By a bounded, finite world.
Wakeful heart was never given Europe’s scientist by heaven; All that God has marked him by Is the speculative eye.
Love he knows not, and the Brain Snake like bites into his vein, Even though his golden cup Flowing ruby filleth up.
Take the lees I give; for lo! In the taverns that I know Aged vintner never more Stands, the young, fierce wine to pour
028
In the heart of the birds, that range This garden, is ever change; ’Tis one with the rose at breast, And other within the nest.
Look thou to thyself intent; Of the world what cause to lament? There’s a different world to see, Be there change of sight in thee.
Each moment, if but thine eye Regardeth attentively, Changeth the tavern road And the Magian’s wonted mode.
The caravan’s leader greet With my blessing, and then repeat: “Though the way unchanged remain, ’Tis a different caravan!”
029
We are gone astray from God; He is searching upon the road, For like us, He is need entire And the prisoner of desire.
On the tulip’s petal He writes The message His heart indites, Yea, and His voice is heard In the passionate song of the bird.
He lay in the iris’ fold Our loveliness to behold; Bright cup of the ardent gaze Whose glance is a hymn of praise!
Parted from us, forlorn He sighs with the breath of morn, Within and out He doth stand, Around, and on every hand.
Great riot created He A creature of clay to see, Fashioned the piercing view To gaze upon mortal hue.
Hidden in every grain Not yet is He known to man, Though bright as the full moon’s grace In cottage and street is His face.
In our envelope all of dust The jewel of life is lost; Is it we, or Himself (O say), This pearl that is gone astray?
030
Of the hirelings’s blood outpoured Lustrous rubies makes the lord; Tyrant squire to swell his wealth Desolates the peasant’s tillth. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
City shaykh with string of beads Many a faithful heart misleads, Brahman baffles with his thread Many a simple Hindu head. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
Prince and Sultan gambling go, Loaded are the dice they throw. Subjects soul from body strip While their subjects are asleep, Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
Preacher’s at the mosque, his son To the kindergarten gone; Greybird is a child, in truth, Child a greybird, spite his youth. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
Brother Muslims! woe to us For the havoc science does; Ahriman is cheap enough, God is rare, scarce offered stuff. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy Revolt, or die!
See how Falsehood’s blandishment Shadows Truth, with ill intent, How the Bat, with blinded eyes, Plots against the Sun to rise. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
In the Churches, Jesus Christ On the Cross is sacrificed, With God’s Book Muhammad too From the Ka‘bah flees anew. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
I have seen into the bowls Furnished by this age for souls; Such the venom they contain, Serpents twist and writhe in pain. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!
Yet the weak are given at length Lion’s heart and tiger’s strength; In this bubbling lantern, lo! Haply yet a flame will glow. Revolt, I cry! Revolt, defy! Revolt, or die!