The Masnavi, Book One (Oxford World's Classics)

The Poor Bedouin and his Wife
162

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Though meaning in this form is visible
And form seems close, they’re incomparable,
Just like a tree and sap –– although they’re linked,
In substance they are clearly quite distinct ––
Abandon substance and particulars,
Explain the state of those two characters!
The bedouin sets his heart on ful
filling his beloved’s request and
swears ‘This surrender of mine is not for show or as a test’
The man said, ‘I no longer will persist,
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You have control –– I’ll do what you insist!
At your command I won’t make you wait long
Nor try to judge if it is right or wrong.
In your existence, mine I’ll leave behind:
I love, and 
Love makes men turn deaf and blind.’
*
The wife asked, ‘Do you sing to win my heart
Or to 
find out my secret through your art?’
He said, ‘
The world of secrets is obscure.’
Adam was made from earth but still was pure,
And in his frame God placed for all to view
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The Tablet’s contents
* and the spirit too––
Until the end whatever is in store
He taught the names
* to Adam long before.
The angels lost their wits at what was shown;
They gained more holiness than they had known,
And this growth which from Adam entered them
Came from beyond their own transcendent realm;
Compared with his expansive soul and mind
The seven heavens all seem too con
fined:
The Prophet said: God’s said, ‘Naught can hold me
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However deep or tall that it may be;
On earth and in the highest heavens I
Can’t be contained, to this I testify,
But I’m contained in the believer’s heart ––
If you seek me look in that precious part!’
God said, ‘
Come here among my slaves and see
A paradise of images of me.’
*
The Poor Bedouin and his Wife
163

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The highest heaven, though it has much light,
Fell down in shock when it was shown this sight;
Although the highest heaven is so vast,
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What’s form worth when pure meaning comes at last?
Each angel then would say, ‘Before we knew
A friendship on the earth with all of you,
We sowed the seeds of service on that land
Though our role there we could not understand:
“What is the link between us and that place
When we are heavenly and that seems base?
Why do we mix with darkness when we’re light,
Can light live with the dark? This can’t be right!”
Adam, our friendship was due to your scent,
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The earth’s your body’s weft –– that’s what we meant,
Since it was woven from the earth, it’s clear,
Your pure light too must be located here ––
From your soul what ours gained has so much worth,
It radiated beams out from the earth.
We were on earth, but of earth unaware,
Heedless of all the treasure buried there;
God told us to move from our previous station,
We grew embittered by our relocation
And so we kept on arguing our case,
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Saying, “But Lord, who now will take our place?
The light of all your praises that we tell
Just for the sake of chatter would you sell?”
We were received so well by God’s decree:
He said, “Feel free to say with liberty
Whatever’s on your mind without a fear
Just like an only child whose words are dear,
No matter if they’re inappropriate ––
Much more than wrathful I’m compassionate.
*
Angels, in order to spell this truth out
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I’ll
fill you with uncertainty and doubt,
And still not take o
ffence when you should speak––
Deniers of My mercy wouldn’t squeak!
So many fathers in My clemency
Are drowned, e
ffaced like drops inside the sea;