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

Still his Kiss she softly feels;

Still his Smile in Fancy gleams.

But in Light she fain would see

Love's own Self, nor wrong it deems.

Trembling her white Hand hath ta'en

Lamp to light, as Fancy schemes.

There by flickering Flame she scans

Beauty which she Heaven esteems.

But the fluttering Oil did shake,

Shamed to find eclipsed its Beams.