"Spare no effort"

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The worm is in the root of the body's tree;
it must be dug out and burned.
Travelers, it is late.
Life's sun is going to set.
During these brief days that you have strength,
be quick and spare no effort of your wings.

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Kerm dar bikh-e derakht-e tan fotâd
bâyadesh bar konad va dar âtesh nehâd
Hin o hin ay râh-raw bigâh shod
âftâb-e `omr su-ye châh shod
in do ruzak-râ keh zuret hast zud
par afshâni be-kon az râh-e jud

-- Mathnawi II: 1264-1266
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Daylight"
Threshold Books, 1994
Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra

The media:
http://tinyurl.com/22fu4r

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~

"Spare no effort"