The Festival of Spring, from the Díván of Jeláleddín / Rendered in English Gazels after Rückert's Versions, with an Introduction and a Criticism of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

by Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi

O silent Love! Teach me thy own Dance here, Revolving!

The Soul in All
XVI.

A mote I in the Sunshine, yet am the Sun's vast Ball;

I bid the Sun spread Sunlight, and make the Mote be small.

I am the Morning Splendour; I am the Evening Breeze;

I am the Leaf's soft Rustle; the Billow's Rise and Fall.

I am the Mast and Rudder, the Steersman and the Ship;

I am the Cliff out-jutting, the Reef of Coral Wall.

I am the Bird Ensnarer, the Bird and Net as well;