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Dead yet I was, then came to life
Said: "You're not mad, don't belong here"
You are the fountain of the sun
Heart felt the new glow of my soul
Thanks your paper gives for your sweets
Thanks heaven's sphere gives for the king
I was Venus, became the moon
O famous moon, I am all yours
Move silently, like a chessman

Poem on the Ascent of the Soul (Rumi)

Translated by Sulayman Ibn Qiddees

Dead yet I was, then came to life, weeping I was, then came to laugh
Love's kingdom came, I came to be, the kingdom of eternity
My eye is full, my soul is bold, a lion's heart is what I have, the morning star, bright I became

Said: "You're not mad, don't belong here," then I went mad, bound up in chains
Said: "You are drunk, get out of here," then I got drunk, bubbling with joy
Said: "You're not dead, not in joy drowned," before his face, I died and bowed
Said: "You're so smart, drunk on your doubt," a fool I became, straight lifted out
Said: "You're the candle of this folk," I said, "I'm not, I'm wisps of smoke"
Said: "You're a shaykh, you're the leader." "I'm but a slave to your command."
He said: "You have feathers and wings. I will not give you feathered wings." Seeking these wings, I lost my wings.
New fortune said: "Don't come my way, I'll come to you."
Old love then said: "Don't leave my heart."" I said, "I won't, I'll stay, I'm still."

You are the fountain of the sun, I am the shade of the willow,
You strike my head, I drop and melt

Heart felt the new glow of my soul, my heart opened, wove a new stole,
I turned against that tattered one
Form of the soul swaggered with pride, slave though I was, Lord I became

Thanks your paper gives for your sweets, limitless it came to me and I dwelt in it

Thanks heaven's sphere gives for the king and the kingdom and the angel,
for through his grace I have become bright and graceful
Thanks the Knower of Truth gives for the fact that we've outstripped the rest;
high up above the seven lay-ers I became a shining star

I was Venus, became the moon, and I became two-hundred skies;
I was Joseph, now I became the Joseph seed

O famous moon, I am all yours, look upon me, and on yourself,
for from the trace of your smile, I have become a garden of roses smiling

Move silently, like a chessman, yourself all tongue, for through the king
of the world's face, I have become happy and blessed.

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