Friday, November 20, 2015

The Thorn of Existence

Reason said: “Stop there!
   In surrender there are only thorns!”
Love replied: “O Reason!
   It is you who are full of thorns!”
Be still, and pluck the thorn
   of existence from your heart,
that you may come to see
   the rose gardens that lie within.

– Jalaluddin Rumi, Ghazal 132, ll. 7-8

[my translation]