I Have Five Things To Say

The wakened lover speaks directly to the beloved
"You are the sky my spirit circles in
The love inside of love, the resurrection-place

Let this window be your ear
I have lost consciousness many times
With longing for your listening silence
And your life-quickening smile

You give attention to the smallest matters
My suspicious doubts, and to the greatest

You know my coins are counterfeit
But you accept them anyway
My impudence and my pretending!

I have five things to say
Five fingers to give
Into your grace

First, when I was apart from you

This world did not exist
Nor any other

Second, whatever I was looking for

Was always you

Third, why did I ever learn to count to three?

Fourth, my cornfield is burning!

Fifth, this finger stands for Rabia

And this is for someone else

Is there a difference?

Are these words or tears?
Is weeping speech?
What shall I do, my love?"

So he speaks, and everyone around
Begins to cry with him, laughing crazily
Moaning in the spreading union
Of lover and beloved

This is the true religion. All others
Are thrown-away bandages beside it
This is the sema of slavery and mastery
Dancing together. This is not-being

Neither words, nor any natural fact
Can express this

I know these dancers
Day and night I sing their songs
In this phenomenal cage

My soul, don't try to answer now!
Find a friend, and hide

But what can stay hidden?
Love's secret is always lifting its head
Out from under the covers
"Here I am!"