O Protector! Rumi, Book VI: Translated by Abdul Hayy Darr. Sufi Illuminations Journal, 2008

 

                                                    O Protector!

                                              Rumi, Mathnawi, Book VI

                                         Translated by Abdul Hayy Darr

                       So who is a true protector? Whoever frees you;

                       Whoever lifts slavery’s shackle from your ankle. 

               

                        Since prophecy’s the true guide to freedom,

                        The faithful find liberation through prophets.

                              So be joyful, O company of faithful! 

                                  Be free as the cypress and lily.

                          Yet with each breath, give thanks to Water, 

                          Wordlessly as a rose garden of mirthful hues.  

                       

                        The cypress and green meadow speak wordlessly, 

                      Thanking Water, thanking the measure of budding spring.   

                         Decked out in elegant robes and trailing their skirts,

                        They’re drunk and dancing, scattering amber in delight.

                        Each of them’s made pregnant by the Shah of spring,                          

                           With fruits of pearl in their bodies’ jewel-caskets.

                          Husbandless Marys are pregnant with Messiah,

                          Free of vain boasting, eloquent in their silence:

                           “Our moon shines wordlessly, joyfully!

                          Tongues find their words from our Beauty!”

                           

                            Jesus-words flow from Mary’s Beauty.

                            Adam’s speech is a ray from that Breath.

                            Trusty friend, see abundance in the thanking

                            That nurtures fresh greenery inside the greenery!

                             Don’t crawl so easily into your self’s gunnysack. 

                             Don’t be heedless of those who’ve ransomed you.

Translator: Robert Abdul Hayy Darr is an American Muslim who has translated and published works of Afghan and Persian literature into English, such as the poetry of Raz Mohammed Zaray and Ustad Khalilullah Khalili, and the book The Garden of Mystery -the Gulshan-i raz of Mahmud Shabistari

Source: Sufi Illuminations: A Journal Devoted to the Study of Islam & Sufism, Vol.4, No.1 Spring 2008, 

Published by Naqshbandiya Foundation for Islamic Education (NFIE)