[Sunlight] Rushing topsy-turvey toward the sea -- Ghazal 1910

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Here, Sunlight offers Ghazal 1910, from the Diwan-e Shams,
versioned by Coleman Barks (based on Arberry), translated by Arberry,
and more recently translated by Ibrahim Gamard:

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Notice how each particle moves.
Notice how everyone has just arrived here
from a journey.
Notice how each wants a different food.
Notice how the stars vanish as the sun comes up,
and how all streams stream toward the ocean.

Look at the chefs preparing special plates
for everyone, according to what they need.
Look at this cup that can hold the Ocean.
Look at those who see the Face.
look through Shams' eyes
into the Water that is
entirely jewels.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
"Like This"
Maypop, 1990

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See how every particle of the world is passing by, see how
everyone has arrived from a journey;
See how everyone desirous of his own sustenance has bowed
his head before his king.
See how, like the stars, for the sake of its glow, are all fallen
helpless at the foot of the sun;
See how, like torrents in a quest of water, all are tumbling head-
long toward their sea.
See how for each from the king's kitchen a table is prepared
according to his needs.
See how the sea of the world is contracted before this sea-
drinking cup.
And as for those whose sustenance is the king's countenance,
see how their mouths are filled with sugar of the king's beauty.
Behold with the eyes of Shams-i Tabrizi; see another ocean
filled with pearls.

-- Translation by A.J. Arberry
"Mystical Poems of Rumi 2"
University of Chicago Press, 1979

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See (how) every part of the world passes on,
(and yet) see (how) everyone has arrived from a journey.
See (how) everyone, in desire for his daily bread,
has bowed his head (in obeisance) to his king.
See (how everyone) has fallen helplessly at the feet of the sun,
like stars, because of (the power of) its glow.
See (how) everyone is rushing topsy-turvey toward their sea,
like flood waters in search of (other) water.
See (how) an honorable table cloth (is spread) for everyone
from the (Divine) Kitchen of the King according to his (fixed)
measure.
See (how, for the dervishes,) the ocean of the world (is) shrunk
before their ocean-drinking cups.
See (how), for those whose daily sustenance is the king's face,
their mouths are full of sugar* from the king's beauty.
(And) see one other ocean full of pearls: look with the eyes of
Shams-e Tabrizi!

-- Translation by Ibrahim Gamard
Copyright 10/24/98

*an idiom meaning a wide smile, or a laugh of happiness

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[Sunlight] Rushing topsy-turvey toward the sea -- Ghazal 1910