A Drifting Ship

At my doorstep I met a drunken man,

Bright eyes shone treasures of the mind.

A drifting ship, anchor unbound, 

Swaying on the surface of the Ocean,

Envied by scholars all around.

I asked thy, where’s thy land?

Mockingly, he replied blunt:

Half of water and clay,

Half heart and soul in play,

Half from beaches lay,

Half from pearls oyster’s bay.

I asked thy to be my friend,

For I am your close parent!

Replied: I do not discern

Strangers from close parents,

For all divisions in me end.

Humble, in a drunken tavern,

My heartbeats are words hidden.

Though, always wondering,

Should I reveal, or concealed shall I remain?

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The above is my preferred passage from Rumi's poem in his Divan-e Shams, Ghazal 2309.

The picture is from Instagram, @fernlichtsicht