THE LAME GOAT

You've seen a herd of goats
going down to the water.

The lame and dreamy goat
bring up the rear.

There are worried faces about that one,
but now they're laughing,

because look, as they return,
that goat is leading!

There are many different kinds of knowing.
The lame goat's kind is a branch
that traces back to the roots of presence.

Learn from the lame goat,
and lead the herd home.

                                 RUMI

THE SNAKE-CATCHER AND THE FROZEN SNAKE

Listen to this, and hear the mystery inside:
A snake-catcher went into the mountains to find a snake.

He wanted a friendly pet, and one that would amaze
audiences, but he was looking for a reptile, something
that has no knowledge of friendship.
                                                      It was winter.
In the deep snow he saw a frighteningly huge dead snake.
He was afraid to touch it, but he did.
In fact, he dragged the thing into Baghdad,
hoping people would pay to see it.
                                                    This is how foolish
we've become! A human being is a mountain range!
Snakes are fascinated by us! Yet we sell ourselves
to look at a dead snake.
                                     We are like beautiful satin
used to patch burlap. "Come see the dragon I killed,
and hear the adventures!" That's what the announced,
and a large crowd came,
                                       but the dragon was not dead,
just dormant! He set up his show at a crossroads.
The ring of gawking people got thicker, everybody
on tiptoe, men and women, noble and peasant, all
packed together unconscious of their differences.
It was like their Resurrection!

He began to unwind the thick ropes and remove
the cloth covering he'd wrapped it so well in.

Some little movement.
                                  The hot Iraqi sun had woken
the terrible life. The people nearest started screaming.
Panic! The dragon tore easily and hungrily
loose, killing many instantly.
                                         The snake-catcher stood there,
frozen. "What have I brought out of the mountains?" The snake
braced against a post and crushed the man and consumed him.

The snake is your animal- soul. When you bring it
into the hot air of your wanting-energy, warmed
by that and by the prospect of power and wealth,
it does massive damage.
                                     Leave it in the snow mountains.
Don't expect to oppose it with quietness
and sweetness and wishing.
                                          The "nafs" don't respond to those,
and they can't be killed. It takes a Moses to deal
with such a beast, to lead it back, and make it lie down
in the snow. But there was no Moses then.
Hundreds of thousands died.

                                               RUMI

SHEBA'S GIFTS TO SOLOMON

Queen Sheba loads forty mules with gold bricks
as gifts for Solomon. When her envoy and his party
reach the wide plains leading to Solomon's palace,
they see that the top layer of the entire plain
is pure gold. They travel on gold
for forty days!
                      What foolishness to take gold
to Solomon, when the "dirt" of his land
is gold. You who think to offer
your intelligence, reconsider. The mind
is less than road dust.

The embarrassing commonness they bring only
slows them down. They argue. They discuss
turning back, but they continue,
carrying out the orders of their queen.

Solomon laugh when he sees them unloading
gold bars.
               "When have I asked you
for a sop for my soup? I don't want gifts
from you. I want you to be ready
for the gifts I give.

You worship a planet that creates gold.
Worship instead the one who create the universe.
You worship the sun. The sun is only a cook.
Think of a solar eclipse. What if you get attacked
at midnight? Who will help you then?"

These astronomical matters fade.
Another intimacy happens,

a sun at midnight,
with no east, no night or day.

The clearest intelligence faint,
seeing the solar system flickering,
so tiny in that immense lightness.

Drops fall into a vapor, and the vapor explodes
into a galaxy. Half a ray strikes a patch of darkness.
A new sun appears.
                              One slight, alchemical gesture,
and saturnine qualities form inside
the planet Saturn.
The sensuous eye needs sunlight to see.
Use another eye.
                         Vision is luminous.
Sight is igneous, and sun-fire light very dark.

                                                           RUMI

CHICKPEA TO COOK

A chickpea leaps almost over the rim of the pot
where it's being boiled.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

The cook knock him down with the ladle.

"Don't you try to jump out.
You think I'm torturing you.
I'm giving you flavour,
so you can mix with spices and rice
and be the lovely vitality of a human being.

Remember when you drank rain in the garden.
That was for this."

Grace first. Sexual pleasure,
then a boiling new life begins,
and the Friend has something good to eat.

Eventually the chickpea
will say to the cook,
                               "Boil me some more.
Hit me with the skimming spoon.
I can't do this by myself.

I'm like an elephant that dreams of gardens
back in Hindustan and doesn't pay attention
to his driver. You're my cook, my driver,
my way into existence. I love your cooking."

The cook says,
                        "I was once like you,
fresh from the ground. Then I boiled in time,
and boiled in body, two fierce boilings.

My animal soul grew powerful.
I controlled it with practices,
and boiled some more, and boiled
once beyond that,
                           and became your teacher."

                                                          RUMI

A STORY OF MAHMOUD AND AYAZ

Shah Mahmoud called Ayaz to him and gave
His crown and throne to this bewitching slave,
Then said: "You are the sovereign of these lands;
I place my mighty army in your hands-
I wish for you unrivalled majesty,
That you enslave the very sky and sea."
But when the soldiers heard of this, their eyes
Grew black with envy they could not disguise.
"What emperor in all the world," they said,
"Has heaped such honours on a servile head?"
Though even as they murmured Ayaz wept
That what the king decreed he must accept;
The courtiers said to him: "You are insane
To change from slave to king and then complain!"
But Ayaz answered them: "O, rather say
My king desires me to be far away,
To lead the army and be occupied
In almost any place but by his side.
What he commands I'll do, but in my heart
We shall not-for one instant-live apart;
And what have I to do with majesty?
To see my king in realm enough for me."
If you would be a pilgrim of the Truth,
Learn how to worship from this lovely youth.
Day follows night- you argue and protest
And cannot pass the first stage of our quest;
Each night you chatter as the hour pass by
And send Orion down the dawning sky,
And still you linger- though another day
Has broken, you're no further on your way.
From highest heaven they came to welcome you,
Alas! you're not the man for this; your thoughts
see hell's despair and heaven's wondrous courts-
Forget these two, and glory's radiant light
Will stage by stage emerge from darkest night;
The pilgrim does not long for paradise-
Keep back your heart; He only will suffice.

                                                           ATTAR

A DRUNKARD ACCUSES A DRUNKARD

A sot become extremely drunk-his legs
And head sank listless, weighed by wine's thick dregs.
A sober neighbour put him in a sack
And took him homewards hoisted on his back.
Another drunk went stumbling by the first,
Who woke and stuck his head outside and cursed.
"Hey, you, you lousy dipsomsniac,"
He yelled as he was borne off in the sack,
"If you,d had fewer drinks, just two or three,
You would be walking now as well as me."
He saw the other's state but not his own,
And in this blindness he is not alone;
You cannot love, and this is why you seek
To find men vicious, or depraved, or weak-
If you could search for love and persevere
The sins of other men would disappear.

                                                     ATTAR

THE FAITHLESS MOSLEM AND THE FAITHFUL INFIDEL

A Moslem fought an infidel one day
And as they fought requested time to pray.
He prayed and fought again-the infidel
Then asked for time to say his prayers as well;
He went aside to find a cleaner place
And there before his idol bowed his face.
The Moslem, when he saw him kneel and bow,
Said: "Victory is mine if I strike now."
But as he raised his sword for that last stroke,
A warning voice from highest heaven spoke:
"O vicious wretch-from head to foot deceit-
What promises are these, you faithless cheat?
His blade was sheathed when you asked him for time;
For you to strike him now would be a crime-
Have you not read in Our Koran the verse
'Fulfil your promises'? And will you curse
The word you gave? The infidel was true;
He kept his promises, and so should you.
You offer evil in return for good-
With others act as to yourself you would!
The infidel kept faith with you, and where
Is your fidelity, for all your prayer?
You are a Moslem, but false piety
Is less than this pagan's loyalty."
The Moslem heard this speech and went apart;
Sweat poured from him, remorse accused his heart.
The pagan saw him as if spell-bound stand,
Tears in his eyes, his sword still in his hand,
And asked: "Why do you weep?" The man replied:
"My shame is not a matter I can hide"-
He told him of the voice that he had heard
Reproaching him when he would break his word,
And ending said: "My tears anticipate
The fury of your vengeance and your hate."
But when the infidel had heard this tale,
His eyes were filled with tears, his face turned pale-
"God censures you for your disloyalty
And guards the life of His sworn enemy-
Can I continue to be faithless now?
I'll burn my gods, to Allah I will bow,
Expound His law! Too long my heart has lain
In darkness bound by superstition's chain."
What infidelity you give for love!
But I shall wait until the heavens above
Confront you with the action you have done
And number them before you, one by one.

                                                      ATTAR

AN INDIAN KING

As Mahmoud's army moved through India,
They chanced to take an old king prisoner
Who learned to Moslem faith at Mahmoud's court
And counted this world and next as nought.
Alone, a hermit in a ragged tent,
He lived for prayer, an earnest penitent,
His face bathed day and night in scalding tears-
At last the news of this reached Mahmoud's ears.
He summoned him and said: "I'll give you
A hundred kingdoms and their revenue;
It's not for you to weep, you are a king;
I promise to return you everything!"
To this the Indian king replied: "My lord,
It's not my kingdom conquered by your sword
That makes me weep, but thoughts of Judgement Day;
For at the resurrection God will say
'O faithless wretch, you had no thoughts of Me
Till you were crushed by Mahmoud's cavalry-
It took an army's might to change your mind,
And till you stood defenceless you were blind-
Does this make you My friend or enemy?
How long did I treat you with loyality
And in return endure your thankless hate?
Is this the friendship that you advocate?'
If God says this, what answer can I give
To contradict the damning narrative?
Young man, if you could understand my fears
You'd know the reason for an old man's tears."
Learn from these faithful words, and if your heart
Holds faith like this, prepare now to depart;
But if your heart is faithless, give up now,
Forget our struggles and renounce your vow;
The faithless have no place on any page
Within the volume of our pilgrimage.

                                             ATTAR

THE DONKEY AND THE CAMEL

A donkey and a camel were walking along together.
The camel moved with long strides and the donkey
moved impatiently, stumbling every now and then.
At last the donkey said to his companion, 'How is it
that I am always in trouble, falling and grazing my legs,
in spite of the fact that I look carefully downwards as
I walk; When you, who never seem to be aware of what
surround you, with your eyes fixed upon the horizon,
keep going so fast and yet seemingly at such leisure?'
            The camel answered: 'Your problem is that your
steps are too short and by the time you have seen something
it is too late to correct your movements. You look all around
and do not assess what you see. You think that haste is speed;
you imagine that by looking you can see; You think that seeing
near is the same as seeing far.
                You guess that I look at the horizon. In fact, I am
merely gazing ahead so as to work out what to do when the
far becomes near. I also remember what has gone before,
and do not need to look back at it and stumble once again.
In this way what seems to you baffling or difficult becomes
clear and easy.'
                     Similarly, donkey-minded people are those who
believe that, they can learn enough to improve themselves by
short sighted means. This includes not looking towards the
future or even into it. It includes demanding a certain pace without
realizing whether it is counter-productive or not......

REFERENCE:THE COMMANDING SELF BY IDRIES SHAH

WATCH THIS!

A retired rabbi loved golf more than just about anything.
Daily he was drawn to the green, addicted to his game,
so much so that come Yom Kippur, the holiest day of
the year, he feigned sickness, sent his family off to service
without him, and snuck out to the empty green. It was a
glorious day, and the vast was all alone; he set aside his
guilt and teed up.
            A host of reproving angels gathers to gape at this
sacrilegious rite. God came to join them, and with a slight
smile playing on his lips, said, "Watch this!"
             The rabbi swing, his form was superb, the ball flew,
and with exquisite aim, it fell, divinely, into the hole.
             The angels were in a rage, "What are you doing. O Lord
giving this heretic a hole in one!" They cried.
God winked. "just wait."
Grumbling, the angels looked on as the rabbi's face lighted up
with ecstasy. He turned to his right to exclaim, but only trees
met his gaze. He turned to his left, but there were only trees too.
Behind him lay nothing but trees. A shadow passed over the
man;s face, as he realized the awful truth. There was no living
soul he could tell.

                                                MARC GAFNI

A SONG ABOUT A DONKEY

The following is about the dangers
of imitating others in your spiritual life.

Meet the Friend on your own.
Try to dissolve out of selfishness
into a voice beyond those limits.

A wondering sufi came with his donkey
to a community of sufis who were very poor.
He fed the donkey and give it water,
left it with his servant, and went inside.

Immediately, a group of the resident sufis
sold the donkey and bought food and candles
for a feast.
                There was jubilation in the monastery!
No more patience and three-day fasting!

If you are rich and full-fed, don't laugh
at the impulsiveness of the poor.
They were not acting from their souls,
but they were acting out of some necessity.

The traveler joined in the festivities.
They paid constant attention to him,
caressing him, honoring him.
                                              The 'seema' began.
There was smoke from kitchen,
dust from the feet hitting the floor,
and ecstasy from the longing of the dancers.

Their hands were waving.
Their foreheads swept low across the dais.
It had been a long wait for such an occasion.

Sufis always have to wait a long time
for their desire. That's why they're such
great eaters!
                   The sufi who feeds on light, though,
is different, but there's only one of those
in a thousand. The rest live under
that one's protection.
                                The 'seema' ran its course
and ended. The poet began to sing a deep grief song,
"The donkey is gone, my son. Your donkey is gone."

Everyone joined in, clapping their hands and singing
over and over, "The donkey is gone, my son.
Your donkey is gone."
                                  And the visiting sufi
sang more passionately than all the rest. Finally,
it was dawn, and they parted with many good-byes.
The banquet room was empty. The man brought out
his baggage and called to his servant,
"where's my donkey?"
                                   "Look at you!"
                                                         "What do you mean?"
"They sold your donkey! That's how we had
such a celebration!"
                             "Why didn't you come and tell me?"
"Several times I came near, but you were always
singing so loudly, 'The donkey's gone,
the donkey's gone,' that I thought you knew.
I thought you had a secret insight."
                                                   "Yes.
It was my imitation of their joy that caused this."

Even the good delight of friends is at first
a reflection in you. Stay with them
until it becomes a realization.
                                           The imitation here
came from the man's desire to be honored.
It deafened him to what was being
so constantly said.

Remember there's only one reason
to do anything: a meeting with the Friend
is the only real payment.

                                                          RUMI

THE CAT AND THE MEAT

There once was a sneering wife
who ate all her husband brought home
and lied about it.

One day it was some lamb for a guest
who was to come. He had worked two hundred days
in order to buy that meat.

When he was away, his wife cooked a kabob
and ate it all, with wine.

The husband returns with the guest.
"The cat has eaten the meat," she says.
"Buy more, if you have any money left!"

He asks a servant to bring the scale,
and the cat. The cat weighs three pounds.
"The meat was three pounds, one ounce.
if this is the cat, where is the meat?
If this is the meat, where is the cat?
Start looking for one or the other!"

If you have a body, where is the spirit?
If you're spirit, what is the body?

This is not our problem to worry about.
Both are both. Corn is corn grain and cornstalk.
The divine butcher cuts us a piece from the thigh,
and a piece from the neck.

Invisible, visible, the world
does not work without both.

If you throw dust at some one's head,
nothing will happen.
If you throw water, nothing.
But combine them into a lump.
                                             The marriage
of water and dirt cracks open the head,
and afterward there are other marriages.

                                                               RUMI

THE GIFT OF WATER

Someone who doesn't know the Tigris exists
bring the caliph who lives near river
a jar of fresh water. The caliph accepts, thanks him,
and gives in return a jar filled with gold coins.

"Since this man has come through the desert,
he should return by water." Taken out by another door,
the man steps into a waiting boat
and sees the freshwater of the Tigris.
He bows his head, "What wonderful kindness
that he took my gift."

Every object and being in the universe is
a jar overfilled with wisdom and beauty,
a drop of the Tigris that cannot be contained
by any skin. Every jarful spills and makes the earth
more shining, as though covered in satin.
If the man had seen even a tributary
of the great river, he wouldn't have brought
the innocence of his gift.

Those that stay and live by the Tigris
grow so ecstatic that they throw rocks at the jugs,
and the jugs become perfect!
                                             They shatter.
The pieces dance, and water....
                                               Do you see?
Neither jar, nor water, nor stone,
                                                  nothing.
You knock at the door of reality,
shake your thought-wings, loosen
your shoulders,
                        and open.

                                                        RUMI

DELIBERATION

A friend remarks to the Prophet, "Why is it
I get screwed in business deals?
It's like a spell. I become distracted
by business talk and make wrong decisions."

Muhammad replies, "Stipulate with every transaction
that you need tree days to make sure."

Deliberation is one of the qualities of God.
Throw a dog a bit of something.
He sniff to see if he wants it.

Be that careful.
Sniff with your wisdom-nose.
Get clear. Then decide.

The universe came into being gradually
over six days. God could have just commanded,
Be!
     Little by little a person reaches forty and fifty
and sixty, and feels more complete. God could have thrown
full-blown prophets flying through the cosmos in an instant.

Jesus said one word, and a dead man sat up,
but creation usually unfolds,
like calm breakers.

Constant, slow movement teaches us to keep working
like a small creek that stay clear,
that doesn't stagnate, but finds a way
through numerous details, deliberately.

Deliberation is born of joy,
like a bird from an egg.
                                      Birds don't resemble eggs!
Think how different the hatching out is.

A white leathery snake egg, a sparrow's egg;
a quince seed, an apple seed: very different things
look similar at one stage.

These leaves, our bodily personalities, seem identical
but the globe of soul fruit
we make,
each is elaborately
unique.

                                                     RUMI

A SIGN OF A WISE MAN

A vazier who had been dismissed from his post in the court
of the king entered a community of dervishes. Gradually their
effect on him was such that he recovered his serenity and he
lived happily among them.

One day the king changed his mind, and sent a message that his
former post was open. Would he like it?

The former vazier replied that he would not. 'I am enjoying my
retirement,' he wrote. 'I am content to be safe from the teeth of
dogs and of men, secure from the hands and tongues of slanderers.'

The king sent a more urgent message: 'I am desperately needing your
administration gifts in my government. I must have a man of wisdom
and intelligence.'

The vazier replied: 'A man of wisdom and intelligence does not get
involved in such matters.'

                                                                                SA'ADI

THE BEAST AND ITS BURDEN

' No one could be in greater distress than I,' wailed a man
in the desert. He had been left behind by the caravan.

'What misfortune!' he cried. 'This is the end.'

'Be quiet,' said a donkey, passing with it's owner on it's back.
'If you have no beast to ride, at least you can be grateful that
you're not a beast that's ridden upon!'

                                                              SA'ADI

FOOD FIT FOR A KING

A king once asked an Arabian doctor how much he
should eat daily.

'The weight of a hundred dinars,' the doctor said.

'Will this give me sufficient strength?' the king asked.

'It will carry you,' came the reply. 'If you eat more,
you will have to carry it.'

                                                                 SA'ADI

THE CRAFTY SLAVE

A slave, belonging to the Sultan Umrulais, escaped and ran away.
Servants were quickly sent in pursuit. He didn't get far. They caught
him, brought him back, and threw him in chains at the feet of the Sultan.

'Make an example of him,' said the vazier, who had grudge against the slave.
'Have him executed, my lord, or you'll have all the slaves trying to escape.'

The slave fell to the ground before Umrulais. 'O Sultan,' he said, 'if you want
my head off there's nothing I can do about it. However, you haven't been a
bad master. You've fed me well and on the whole I've been happy. So I
should be sorry if, on the Day of Resurrection, you were punished for illegally
shedding my blood. If you must kill me, do it according to the law.'

'Indeed?' said the Sultan. 'Suppose you tell me how I could do that?'

'Well,' said the slave, 'here's one way, for example: the law says it is perfectly
all right to kill in retaliation for another death. Now if you were to give me
 permission to kill your vizier here, you could then execute me legally without
any fear.'

The Sultan laughed and turned to the vazier. 'What do you say to that?' he asked.

The vizier groaned and raised his eyes to heaven. 'It's my fault,' he sighed. 'I should
have remembered the saying: If you shoot an arrow at your foe, don't forget you are
also a sitting target for him. My lord, rather than get myself into  any further danger,
I beg you to let the rascal go!,

                                                                                 SA'ADI

REMOVING THE RUBBISH

When the young traveller got off the boat, they saw
that he looked so wise, devout and humble that there
was only one place at which he could possibly stay.

They deposited his luggage at the monastery. There
the youth was made welcome by the pious community.

One day the head of the community said to the youth:

'Would you please sweep the rubbish away from the
mosque?'

That was the last they saw of him. All were puzzled,
but decided that he had no aptitude for work.

But next day, one of the servants of the community
happened to catch sight of the youth and stopped him.

'It was foolish of you to go off like that,' he remarked.
'Don't you know that it is only by service that you climb
the ladder?'

At this the youth wept.

'Oh my friend,' he cried, 'what could I do? I looked around
and the place was spotless. I therefore concluded that the
head of the community was referring to me! I removed myself
so that the place should remain pure and spotless.'

                                                                    SA'ADI

MARKET VALUE

I saw an Arab merchant setting among some jewellers at Basrah.
He told them this story: 'I once lost my way in the desert. Soon
I had eaten every scrap of food and I knew that I was not far from
death. In despair, I searched again through my luggage and found
a bag which felt to me as if it were full of grain. You can imagine my
joy, my absolute ecstasy!

'Imagine my despair and bitterness, then, when I got the bag open.
It was full of pearls.'

                                                                               SA'ADI

THE BLESSING

A sinful man was so changed by the light of God's grace
that he joined a community of religious men. He found
the life difficult but their influence was so good that his
evil ways were changed, and his lusts and passions
subsided.
                But, though a man may be pardoned by God,
men's tongues are a different matter. He heard whispers
everywhere.

                   'It's all a sham. It won't last long. You can't
change a man with the record he's got.'

'Do you think that he's really given up his bad habits? I
hear that he's worse then he ever was.'

'Just look at him! it's all a pretence.'

At last he could bear it no longer. He went to head of the
religious order.

'I am worn out by the gossip of men,' he complained.

The spiritual director wept. 'Don't you realise what a blessing
you have?' he said. 'It is a divine favour that God has given
you, for you know that you are better than men think.
Contrast this favour with my own lot. All men think me
perfect, but, O, I know that I am imperfection itself!'

                                                               SA'ADI

FAITHFUL LOVER

The moon came to me last night
       With a sweet question.

              She said,

"The sun has been my faithful lover
          For millions of years.

Whenever I offer my body to him
Brilliant light pours from his heart.

Thousands then notice my happiness
           And delight in pointing
                Toward my beauty.

                           Hafiz,
             Is it true that our destiny
                 is to turn into Light
                            Itself?"

                       And I replied,

                         Dear moon,
        Now that your love is maturing,
               We need to sit together
              Close like this more often

                So I might instruct you
                     How to become
                           Who you
                                Are!

                                             HAFIZ

YOUR MOTHER AND MY MOTHER

       Fear is the cheapest room in the house.
               I would like to see you living
                     In better conditions

          For your mother and my mother
                        were friends.

            I know the Innkeeper
            In this part of the universe.
                 Get some rest tonight,
             Come to my verse again tomorrow.
             We'll go speak to the Friend together.

            I should not make any promises right now,
                             But I know if you
                                     Pray
                      Somewhere in this world-
                       Something good will happen.

                           God wants to see
                More love and playfulness in your eyes
                For that is your greatest witness to Him.

                           Your soul and my soul
                  Once sat together in the Beloved's womb
                                 Playing footsie

                             Your heart and my heart
                                  Are very, very old
                                          Friends.

                                                                               HAFIZ

REMOVING THE SHOE FROM THE TEMPLE

                                         Once someone asked me,
                           
                                "Why do saint seek divine annihilation
                                             And are often humble
                                     And like to spend their free time
                                              Upon their knees"?

                                                      I replied,

                                      "It is a simple matter of etiquette."

                                                Then they said,

                                        "What do you mean, Hafiz?"

                                               "Well," I continued,
                                          

                                     "When ones goes into a mosque or temple
                                            Is it not common to remove what
                                                        covers your
                                                              Feet?

                                                     So too does it happen
                                              With this whole mind and body-
                                               That is something like a shoe sole-
                                                      When one begins to realize
                                               Upon whom you are really standing,

                                                             On begins
                                                      To remove the 'shoe' from the
                                                               Temple."

                                                                                       HAFIZ

THE KING WHO GAVE HIS SLAVE AN APPLE

A good kind-hearted monarch one day gave
A rosy apple to his favourite slave,
Who seemed to eat the fruit with such delight
The laughing king said: "Here, give me a bite!"
The slave returned him half, but when the king
Bit into it seemed a paltry thing,
Unripe and tart. Frowning he said:"And how
Is what appeared so sweet so bitter now?"
The slave replied: "My lord, you've given me
Such proofs of constant generosity,
I could not find it in my grateful heart
To grumble just because one apple's tart-
I must accept whatever you bestow;
No harm can come to me from you, I know."
If you meet tribulations here be sure
That wealth will come from all you must endure;
The path of God are intricate and strange-
What can you do? Accept what will not change!
The wise know every mouthful on this Way
Tastes bitter with their blood. Until that day
When as His guest they break their bread, they must
Consume in suffering each broken crust.

                                                          ATTAR