For interpretation, it helps to know what the original Persian texts
are, in order to check for accuracy of the given translation or
interpretive version, as well as to better understand the verses. The
first verses you asked about are from the first book of Masnavi (see
below), and need to be read in the context of the verses that precede
and follow the ones in which you are interested.
The second quote you posted is Mawlana Rumi's ghazal no. 1509 (this
was found by me, thanks to a DVD that sister Behnâz sent to me from
Iran, "Emissary of the Sun", which has the entire Persian text of
Rumi's Divan with excellent search capacity (such as to find in this
poem the words "neck's vein" = hablu 'l-warîd" from Qur'an 50:16,
where God says about Man: "We are nearer to him than (his) jugular
vein". The translator was A.J. Arberry, 'Persian Poems', an Anthology
of verse translations edited by A.J.Arberry, Everyman's Library, 1972.
Because it is rhymed, there is some loss of original meanings.
safar kard-am, ba-har shahré davîd-am
chô shahr-e `ishq man shahrê na-dîd-am
سفر کردم بهرشهری دویدم
چو شهر عشق من شهری ندیدم
Ibrahim
----------------------
The tears of our eyes are running because of our separation
from thee; sigh after sigh is going (up) from the midst of our souls.
A babe does not contend with its nurse, but it weeps, although it
knows neither evil nor good.
We are as the harp and thou art striking (it with) the plectrum
(playing on it): a lamentation is not from us, it is thou that art
making lamentation.
We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; we are as the
mountain, and the echo in us is from thee.
We are as pieces of chess (engaged) in victory and defeat:
our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are
comely!
Who are we, O thou soul of our souls, that we should remain in
being beside thee?
We and our existences are (really) non-existences: thou art the
absolute Being which manifests the perishable (causes phenomena to
appear).
We all are lions, but lions on a banner: because of the wind they
are rushing onward from moment to moment.
Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen: may that which
is unseen not fail from us!
Our wind (that whereby we are moved) and our being are of thy
gift; our whole existence is from thy brining (us) into being.
--Masnavi, Book I: 596-605, translated by R. A. Niholson, 1926
-----------------------
On Apr 23, 6:54 am, Shawn <Stejani...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Guys,
>
> Can someone please help with the summary or the central idea of the
> following two peoms?
>
> Regards,
> Shawn
>
> THE UNSEEN POWER
>
> We are the flute, our music is all Thine;
> We are the mountains echoing only Thee;
> And movest to defeat or victory;
> Lions emblazoned high on flags unfurled-
> They wind invisible sweeps us through the world.
>
> DESCENT
>
> I made a far journey
> Earth's fair cities to view,
> but like to love's city
> City none I knew
>
> At the first I knew not
> That city's worth,
> And turned in my folly
> A wanderer on earth.
>
> From so sweet a country
> I must needs pass,
> And like to cattle
> Grazed on every grass.
>
> As Moses' people
> I would liefer eat
> Garlic, than manna
> And celestial meat.
>
> What voice in this world
> to my ear has come
> Save the voice of love
> Was a tapped drum.
>
> Yet for that drum-tap
> From the world of All
> Into this perishing
> Land I did fall.
>
> That world a lone spirit
> Inhabiting.
> Like a snake I crept
> Without foot or wing.
>
> The wine that was laughter
> And grace to sip
> Like a rose I tasted
> Without throat or lip.
>
> 'Spirit, go a journey,'
> Love's voice said:
> 'Lo, a home of travail
> I have made.'
>
> Much, much I cried:
> 'I will not go';
> Yea, and rent my raiment
> And made great woe.
>
> Even as now I shrink
> To be gone from here,
> Even so thence
> To part I did fear.
>
> 'Spirit, go thy way,'
> Love called again,
> 'And I shall be ever nigh thee
> As they neck's vein.'
>
> Much did love enchant me
> And made much guile;
> Love's guile and enchantment
> Capture me the while.
>
> In ignorance and folly
> When my wings I spread,
> From palace unto prison
> I was swiftly sped.
>
> Now I would tell
> How thither thou mayst come;
> But ah, my pen is broke
> And I am dumb.
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