Prisoners of Misfortune

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is from Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi’s (q.s.) Divan-e Shams.  It was translated by Dr. Alan A. Godlas. 

“In the path of Your Love,

We are prisoners of misfortunes.

Poor lovers, we are unlike anyone You have seen.

Throw Your Glance this way,

For we are strangers in this town.

Be Generous with us,

For we are beggars in this town.

No piety to sit in solitude of prayer.

No joy to run around the tavern.

Neither temperate nor drunkards.

Not here nor there.

Who are we, where from?

Like Hallaj; we are not afraid of death;

We are crazy lovers of God.

If our fear was the fear of misfortune,

What should we fear now?

When we are in the midst of misfortune?

We have a secret with You,

No soul can ever share,

Even if we lose our heads.

Our lips are sealed;

We do not worry about hell,

Nor care about heaven.

Unveil Yourself for we are eager to see Your Face

O Shams, have pity, Take us in,

For we are Branded by the Mark of God.”