Today's Beautiful Gem: "To bear thine idol ever..." by Zeb-un-Nisa Makhfi,
translated from the Persian by Magan Lal and Jessie Westbrook.

"Awake, arise, my soul, for it is spring;
Let the narcissus, with its scent divine,
Cast its bewitchment, let the Saki bring
His idol, for indeed he worships wine.

"To the forbidden path turn not aside,
And, tyrannous Beloved, let thine eye
Look on thy victims trampled in thy pride,
Who for a glance from thee would gladly die.

"Some pray their worship at the Kaaba shrine,
Some pray within the Temple courts apart,
But, Makhfi, think what secret joy is thine,
To bear thine idol ever in thy heart."

Note: As I mentioned in one of my earlier postings, Zeb-un-Nissa
Makhfi means the hidden one. Her Sufic poetry is well read in
India and is recited at festivals at the tombs of famous saints.
Like her brother Dara, she was fond of Hinduism and its philosophy.
This is all the more impressive if one remebers who her father was!

Om s'aantih: Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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