Men’s eyes and ears are sealed; they know not where they wend.
A Caliph asked of Laylà: “Art thou really she
For whom poor Majnūn went distracted? For I see,
Than other beauties thou art not so passing fair.”
Said she: “Be silent! Thou’rt not Majnūn; nor his pair.”
A man awake is sound asleep; more, he can’t be.
His watchfulness is worse than sleep; how should he see?90
Our souls, if not awake to God’s most holy truth,
Are not awake. We’re slaves to them. The greater ruth!
The soul all day is buffeted by fancy’s whims;