I am difficult, like your tresses;
Like your tresses, I am rebellious.
—–
Translated from Farsi by Mahnaz Badihian and John Timpane
Rumi Ghazal 36
Heart’s desire, come no matter; show your face.
O intention, o result, come no matter; show your face.
I am difficult, like your tresses;
Like your tresses, I am rebellious.
Problem-solver, come no matter; show your face.
Don’t talk path. Don’t talk purpose. Talk no more.
O my path, o my purpose, come no matter; show your face.
A fist of soil, a fist of soil you stole from Earth.
In your fist I lay, I that soil.
Come no matter; show your face.
While I know good, I am aware.
While I know evil, I am aware
. . . and distracted!
Forget your beauty; come no matter; show your face.
Unless your love immolates my idiocy
I’m unaware. I’m never aware.
Come no matter; show your face.