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Today, Sunlight offers Rumi's Ghazal (Ode) 707, from the "Diwan-e Shams" ("The Collection of Shams"), in the translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi, and in an interpretive version by Coleman Barks:
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Joseph has come, the handsome one,
the Jesus of the age has come.
The banner of victory has come
fluttering over the spring parade.
You, whose work is to bring the dead to life,
arise, for the day has come.
The lion, that hunts the lions,
has come to the meadow raging drunk.
Yesterday and the day before are gone,
seize the moment, the time has come.
Today the city is full of excitement,
the Prince has come.
Beat the drum and rejoice for the Friend has come.
A Moon has risen out of the unseen,
compared with which this one is dust.
Because of that Beauty,
the whole world has become restless.
Spread open the skirt of love,
the grace from heaven has come.
You were an exiled bird with cut wings,
rejoice now for your new wings have come.
My imprisoned heart, open your cage,
the one you've lost has come.
Feet dance, for the illustrious King is here.
Speak not of the old man, he is young again,
speak not of yesterday, the Friend has come.
You saw fire and light has come,
you saw blood and red wine has come.
You ran from your good fortune,
now you have come back full of remorse.
Be silent and count your blessings,
boundless Grace has come.
-- Translated by Azima Melita Kolin
and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Hidden Music
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001
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Joseph
Joseph has come,
the handsome one of this age,
a victory banner floating over Spring flowers.
Those of you whose work it is
to wake the dead, get up!
This is a work day.
The lion that hunts lions charges into the meadow.
Yesterday and the day before are gone.
The beautiful coin of now
slaps down in your hand.
The streets and buildings of this city
are all saying, The prince is coming!
Start the drumbeat. Everything we've said
about the Friend is true. The beauty of that
peacefulness makes the whole world restless.
Spread your love-robe out to catch
what sifts down from the ninth level.
You strange, exiled bird with clipped wings,
now you have four full-feathered pinions.
You heart closed up in a chest, open,
for the Friend is entering you.
You feet, it's time to dance!
Don't talk about the old man.
He's young again. And don't mention
the past. Do you understand?
The Beloved is here!
You mumble,
"But what excuse can I give the king?"
when the king is here making excuses to you!
You say, "How can I escape his hand?"
when that hand is trying to help you.
You saw a fire, and light came.
You saw blood, and wine
is being poured.
Don't run from your own tremendous good fortune.
Be silent and don't try
to add up what's been given.
An uncountable grace has come to you.
-- Version by Coleman Barks
"Say I Am You"
Maypop, 1994
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