~ Poetry ~

[theZman]

Bismillah

Salam Alaikum,

The Noble Nature

By Ben Johnson

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or stand long an oak; three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lilly of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night--
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we Just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be.

Fi Amanillah
[/i]

[theZman]

Bismillah

Salam Alaikum,

The Day Of Hope

By Hafiz
Translated By G. Bell

The day of hope, hid beneath sorrow's veil,
Has shown its face--ah, cry that all may hear:
Come forth! The powers of night no more prevail!
Praise be to God, now that the rose is near
With long-desired and flaming coronet,
The cruel stinging thorns all men forget,
The wind of winter ends its proud career.

Fi Amanillah
[/i]

[theZman]

Salam Alaikum,

"On The Excellence Of Contentment"

Contentment! Do thou me enrich; for those
Who have thee not, are blest with wealth in vain.
Wise Luqman for his treasure, patience chose:
Who have not patience, wisdom ne'er attain.

(Saadi Shirazi)

[theZman]

Salam Alaikum,

The world to me has been a home,
Wherever knowledge could be sought.
Through differing climes I loved to roam,
And every shade of feeling caught.
From minds whose varied fruits supply
The food of my philosophy.
And still the treasures of my store,
Have made my wandering less severe.
From every spot some prize I bore,
From every harvest gleaned an ear...

By Hafiz
Translated by Sir William Jones (1895)

[theZman]

Bismillah

Salam Alaikum,

Magnificent Existence

By Rumi

God has made existence magnificent,
He has made it through nonexistence.
He has concealed the sea
And exposed the foam,
Concealed the wind and displayed the dust.
The whirling dust flies like a dancer,
The wind is invisible, known only by trust,
The foam moves all about you,
But without the sea no whirling takes place.
Thought is hidden, speech is manifest...

Fi Amanillah

[theZman]

Salam Alaikum,

Leyla's Prayer In The Difficulty Of Decision

By Muhammed Fuzuli
(1498-1550)
Excerpts from the poem: "Leyla and Mejnun"

O Lord, for the Truth of Perfection, found in the Courts of the Great.
For God, Divine in His Goodness, Consummate in all His Eastate.
For Truth of the Prophet Mustafa with countenance constantly bright,
Whose lustre has given the world its all illuminating light:

My body submerge in the ocean of love
For the sake of the truth that was sent  from above
To furnish for Moses Thy sweet guidance dear
And urge him to follow the laws of Hizir.

Change now, I beseech Thee, my desolate eve
For glory of Morning my sorrow relieve.
With daybreak of union, bringing the breath
Of love to my spirit now closing in death.

Let not all my woe and affliction bring ill
Let love that is Thine all encompass me still.
'Tis I who have strayed from the path clearly shown
Exhibit Thy guidance; Thy counsel make known.

For the sake of the guide at Thy hand ever near
Show now the dear pathway that runs straight and clear,
Still letting my heart all its sorrows endure
With those yet approved in a passion still pure.

Like Fuzuli, may Thou my devotion to prayer
Complete and inspire, leaving little to care.

Fi Amanillah

[Halima]

When clutches of the "self" break away, they clap their hands and break into dance as their imperfections fade away. The musicians within strike the tambourine, and the seas burst into foam at their ecstasy.

-Rumi, "The Life and Thought of Rumi"

[Jannah]

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

[danz]

  A Perspective on Life


Normally death invites us
home at a ripe age
hence many of us choose
to enjoy & frolic at a young age
telling ourselves we can repent later
thinking the doors of repentance
will always be open
Oft-times we forget
who we are
when celebrating parties & fiestas
and end up violating
the borders of civility
as if we're proud
of the sins we've committed

Amusement centres
and night spots
often become our ports

We should realise that
every dollar we spend
on vices is more beneficial
if we invest it in the Baitulmal
cos the dividends that we shall
reap in the hereafter will ensure
everlasting prosperity & felicity

Thus for the sake of time
don't let ourselves be lost
return to the right track
cos true tranquility
can only be found
as we kowtow sincerely
to the Almighty.

         SHASEL  January 1999.


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