IX. The Poor Scenite Arab and his Wife.
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Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
The hopeless have become as though their hopes were fair;
The hopeful show enjoyment of fruition’s share!
A voice proclaimed: “Come forward, all ye sons of want!”
Beneficence seeks beggars, as for gifts they pant.
Beneficence hunts up for beggars and for need,
As beauty seeks her mirror, with a special greed.
A pretty face is charming in its mirror seen;
Beneficence gleams lovely through want’s chilly sheen.
God hath enjoined in holy writ: “By forenoon’s glare!”315
“Muhammed, chide not thou too much at beggar’s prayer!”316505
A beggar is a mirror wherein bounty shines.
Dull not that mirror, then, with breath of anger’s whines!
The beggar ’tis shows forth what charity achieves;
A charitable man for this those wants relieves.
A beggar, then, ’s a mirror of th’ Almighty’s grace;
And whoso’s with the Lord, therein sees his Lord’s face.
He that hath love for other than the Lord of all,
Is dead at heart,—not living;—shadow on a wall!
Whoe’er adopts God’s poverty, without false show,
Secures the prize of God’s rich pleasure here below!510
Who puts on sham of poverty deserves no bread.
(Bones are not given to effigies of dogs. They’re dead!)
His want craves pelf; ’tis not the love of God he’d seek.
Lay not thy bounty at the feet of one too sleek.
A landshark is a mendicant for mere pelf’s sake.
He’s fish in form; but will not to the water take.
Domestic fowl is he; not eagle of free air.
With Lot he sips of wine; God’s water’s his despair.
He loves his God, if but his God will grant him wealth;
But nothing cares for God’s mere grace;—for spirit’s health.515
Should he conceive th’ idea of love for God alone,
God’s essence he’d deny, God’s attributes disown.
Man’s fancy is a creature;—born with mortal lot.
God was not born. His scripture says: “Nor was begot.”317
The man in love with self, and with his fancy’s freak,
Can never be a lover who to God will seek.
Were fancy’s lover true, and free from crafty guile,
His fancy’s tropes had led him to the truth erewhile.
That dictum would require a commentary, full,
But fear withholds me. Prejudice will have its pull!520