Tuesday once again… and yet more inspired lines from the great Rumi…
Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī, جلالالدین محمد بلخى

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Cease looking for flowers,
there blooms a garden in your own home.

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O Sun, fill our house once more with light!
Make happy all your friends and blind your foes!
Rise from behind the hill, transform the stones
To rubies and the sour grapes to wine!
O Sun, make our vineyard fresh again,
And fill the steppes with houris and green cloaks!
Physician of the lovers, heaven’s lamp!
Rescue the lovers! Help the suffering!
Show but your face—the world is filled with light!
But if you cover it, it’s the darkest night!

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Thirst drove me down to the water
where I drank the moon’s reflection.

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Come to the orchid in Spring.
There is light and wine, and sweethearts
in the pomegranate flowers.
If you do not come, these do not matter.
If you do come, these do not matter.

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I was a tiny bug. Now a mountain.
I was left behind. Now honored at the head.
You healed my wounded hunger and anger,
and made me a poet who sings about joy.

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I have a thirsty fish in me
that can never find enough
of what it’s thirsty for!

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We are the night ocean filled
With glints of light. We are the space
Between the fish and the moon,
While we sit here together.

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O heart, what a wonderful bird you are.
Seeking divine heights,
Flapping your wings,
you smashed the pointed spears of your enemy.

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I will soothe you and heal you.
I will bring you roses.
I too have been covered with thorns.

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Here is a letter to everyone.
You open it. It says, “Live!”