VII. The Merchant and the Parrot.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Jalal al-Din Rumi, Maulana and Redhouse, James W. (James William), Sir
So when he had reached that land, greatly renowned
In wooded retreat, flock of parrots he found.
He stopped his beast, cried out, at top of his voice,
That message his Polly had made, as his choice.
One bird of the flock, he saw, then took to quake,
Fell prone to the earth; no more breath seemed to take.
The merchant regret felt for what he had done,
Exclaiming: “Alas! The poor bird I’ve slain, lone!
That creature was surely related to Poll;
Two bodies; one soul; just as is magic doll.45
Why did I deliver that fatal message?
I’ve killed a collateral of Poll’s lineage!”
The tongue, by itself, acts just like flint and steel.
A word from it, fire-like, we scathing can feel.
Strike not, then, so rashly, fire’s sparks from thy tongue,
In message or talk, feeble hearers among.
The night is pitch dark; strewn around, cotton beds.
Amongst beds of cotton, ’tis, sparks one most dreads.
He sins who, unmindful of dire consequence,
Lets fall spoken spark,—fires a whole world, immense.50
One rash word may set an assembly ablaze.
Molehills into mountains, and higher, it can raise.
In basis, our souls would appear Jesus-like.
To kill, to resuscitate, words are godlike.
If lifted could be from our souls the dark veil,
Each word of each soul would with miracles trail.
Dost wish to speak always to men with sweet words?
Have patience. Impatience must not fret the cords.
’Tis patience beloved is by all men of sense.
Impatience a fault is, of children, intense.55
Who patience exhibits shall mount to heaven’s dome.
Impatience who showeth, tastes wrath that’s to come.
A saint is not hurt, whate’er else may betide,210
To swallow fell poison should he once decide.
He’s whole, and he’s sound; strict diet’s his rule.
Poor students are healthy in fever’s dread school.
The Prophet has cautioned: “Brave though you may be,
Commit not mad rashness, howe’er the foe flee.”
Within thee’s a Nimrod. Approach not the fire.
Approach it thou must? To be Abr’am aspire.60