Seemly and Unseemly

FRIDAY, JUNE 10


Seemly and Unseemly


Give not my heart into separation's hand, for
that is not seemly! Kill not him who is dying for Thee! Kill
him not, oh Idol, for that is not seemly!
In Gentleness Thou hadst chosen me, why now
hast Thou fled from me? Oh Thou who hast displayed
faithfulness, be not cruel, for that is not seemly!
The treasure of Thy Gentleness gave me the
robe of felicity. Strip not that robe from my body, for that is
not seemly!
My heart seems to be all face with no back.
Turn not Thy Face away from me, turn not Thy back toward
me, for that is not seemly!
I spoke of union with Thee. Thy Gentleness
said yes! After saying yes, ask not why--that is not seemly!
Thou art a mine of sugar and candy--candy
does not speak bitterness. Speak not bitter words to our face,
for that is not seemly!
Bring those words each of which is like a spirit!
Hide not the lamp in the night, for that is not seemly!
Thy heartache, which has made me frail, is
neither inside nor outside the body. Heartache is a placeless
fire--ask not where, for that is not seemly!
My heart has come from the World of
Ineffability, Thy Image from the other side of the heart.
Separate not these two travelers, for that is not seemly!
Shut not the door of the house, glance at the
Sufis! Say, "Welcome!" and do not eat rice alone, for that is
not seemly!
Oh heart, sleep from thought, for thought is the
heart's snare. Go not to God except disengaged from all things,
for that is not seemly!


-- Ghazal (Ode) 907
Translation by William C. Chittick
"The Sufi Path of Love"
SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

The image:
http://tinyurl.com/rppve

The Persian recitation:
http://tinyurl.com/rb6gu

Seemly and Unseemly