Faruk Dilaver - Poems

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DIVINE HEART SONGS POEMS by Faruk DİLAVER

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1

I walk into your garden like a thief To smell your roses as deeply as my heart desires –

I enter your garden silently – I want to smell the roses!

But I only want to smell your roses.

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Don’t do what your heart doesn’t want to do. These days love still purifies you.

Don’t mix sour lemon with the sweetness of love’s water. These days avoid trial and error –

By following your mind – These days, don’t look back on your past!

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If you ever desire to find the Truth, Tell me what your inner heart yearns for.

Let me become your guide on the path. Let me search and find Him with you.

Then when we find the Truth I will settle down and take some rest with you.

4

When the bird of the heart takes wing It flies to trees and branches, But the bird of my heart plays on the same tree.

4 It always plays on the same tree.

He is loyal – I am loyal.

The bird of my heart plays on the same tree still.

5

You are the wishing well of my love. You are my true essence from the past. You are the clouds over my fields. You are the full moon of my dark nights.

What else are you? …I don’t know –

You are the wishing well All my prayers are born from.

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Sometimes I am like a shy maiden – I grant you a demure smile.

I want to be loved as much as my heart craves. I wear all white like a bride in waiting.

It’s true! Now I’m becoming a bride… With all my modesty and good conduct, I have matured.

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Once upon a time, Majnun fell in love with Layla.

While in love with Layla, he found his Beloved: God.

6 Once he found his Beloved, he forgot all about Layla.

Oh, Majnun, what have you done? You’ve left Layla all alone.

Majnun escaped to the Truth all by himself… Without Layla, without Layla!

8

They tell me to forget my love. They try so hard to distract me, But so far they haven’t succeeded.

O my Beloved, they will never make me desert you! Your name has become my love! They will never make me forget your name –

That name I repeat relentlessly.

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My Beloved, you are my true Friend! Your beautiful glances almost made me forget you But I found they contained truths.

With the benefits of patience At last the True Friend is coming to those truths By overcoming all desires.

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Don’t look down on the people of ruin! Countless universes are hidden in their desolation.

Don’t break the exalted hearts whose days are dark. In them are torches that will illuminate you.

Don’t trust your mind, don’t become arrogant!

8 In them are cures that will bring your mind To states of bewilderment.

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If you ask what it means to be close It is what you are missing –

It is like a billowing curtain in plain sight. It is not even a dream unless you open it a little.

If you ask what intimacy is – It is the path to Unity.

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Who will love you as you are? If he sees you as you are He forgets his love And endures all sorrows. Only Who...!

Who will love you as you are? If he knows everything about you – Only Who...!

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If you are happy, there must be a reason. If you are unhappy, there must be a reason too!

Don’t look for reasons far away. Whether you know or it not Every difficulty has a reason.

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Underneath every irrational sadness Is love: the cause of all causes!

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From ears to eyes lies a path to the heart. From hands to friends lies a path to the heart.

Many things come from this path to the heart.

Along with this world’s desires and titles, Love and friendship go there.

But be careful – this path Must be open to the True Friend.

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I searched and prayed so long, I dedicated so many poems to your name –

Sometimes hopeful, sometimes hopeless –

I asked for news of you From streams of wind and flying birds...

I thought I could find you by myself alone – If only you hadn’t found me

I might have thought everything I saw was you!

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We are being purified in our joys. We are being purified in our thoughts. We are being purified in our beliefs. We are being purified in our bodies. We are being purified in everything.

So I say, ―Don’t mix the sweet with the sour! Don’t look back in ardent desire!‖

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Don’t think I’m complaining about you – I’m opening up to you – my heart is blossoming with you.

Don’t think I’m complaining about you – I’m brightening up with festive music As I come to you!

Don’t think I’m complaining about you – Only with you do I gain union with you!

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I’m like a bird in the palm of your hand. Take care of me – love me, feed me –

13 Let me fly away to far–off places, Then listen to me yearn for you…

Don’t forget me, O never forget me, Or else you’ll lose me and never find me again, And you will lose yourself.

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If my heart finds peace in loving you My mind will never be your enemy.

Don’t be unfair, just wait and see. Don’t count the years you’ve waited, O my love!

Time passes and seasons change. The Beloved will come and find you again.

If my heart finds peace in loving you You’ll always take me back again.

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Whenever I hold the cup of this love in my hands I hear what Shams heard, I speak what Rumi spoke –

I wonder what secret this cup carries… What is the secret of this love’s cup?

I ask myself whether they are still alive Or if they ever passed away…

I’m lost in wonder!

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This state of my heart feels love now, A love that’s worthy of my youth, A love that’s worthy of feeling,

15 A love that’s worthy of my life, A love that’s worthy of this world, A love that’s worthy of my soul –

Oh, I don’t know what this love is worthy of!

My God! Tell me what this love is worthy of!

22

You know the love And the indescribable feelings I have… Inside me live these things I’ve had for years!

Since this love has become clear It has found its identity – It is no longer just a feeling.

This love has become someone I know. Another being is living inside me!

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16 You are the flower of my farewell! Blossom in the spring of my heart So nightingales will find bliss!

Give us a drop of pearl from those rose leaves Filled with the sadness of your yearning So my heart will become enchanted.

The sweet smile of your face Is so happily exalted My soul finds peace!

Pain of separation from you is beautiful – Yearning for you is beautiful… But to be in union with you is more beautiful still.

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You are still looking, my dear, you are still searching, But without knowing how to look You seek a reason for everything, even for love of you.

You say, ―How can there be love without a reason?‖ True! The reason of all causes is One.

17 Haqq is the One Who is the cause of everything.

But then you ask, ―Why love only Haqq?‖

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Do you think I’m happy? I’m not complaining at all.

Do you think I’m happy? I’m drunk with love!

I’m not complaining about mankind, I’m not complaining about the pain of this love.

If I were to be born again, I’d ask for this love! Even then, I’d ask to be burnt in this love again!

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18 What does my love say to you? “Find a way – Receive grace from this Divine Breath!”

Is it easy to hear this?

I must do something about it, Even if I make mistakes!

Oh, my mind is waiting at the door! What will I do if my mind says something?

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In the secrets of the story of spirit Seers of love become like moths attracted by light.

They constantly whirl day and night, But they never go away and they never come any closer.

Seers of love become like moths attracted by light. There’s someone on my horizon coming closer and closer!

Without thinking about the end,

19 I’ll embrace the flames!

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We’re selected, we’re chosen – We’re born for love.

We live for love, we die for love.

We’ve left our worries behind. We’ve left our wishes behind.

For this love, our only suggestion is: We surrender ourselves into your hands.

Now we’re silent! In the waters of this silence we become thirsty.

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There is something that touches me In this love that remains unclear.

You tell me you’re a means, not an end.

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Sometimes you tell me you’re the rose that makes nightingales fall in love.

For the sake of Allah, let’s make a deal – No more metaphors!

You are the one who loves – You are the one to be loved. You are the truth in love – You are the Truth!

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Don’t wander around in the rain Hoping to receive a drop.

If you can, Love a drop from the ocean.

Don’t be deceived by the glitter of gold and silver. If you can, Love a ray from the sun that colors everything gold and silver with its light!

Love the Beautiful One Who embraces

21 All the colors and beauties within!

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You alone – Just come by yourself And we will transcend ourselves.

When the Beloved comes We will all be together on the stage –

If we sail the ocean On the ship of eternal love and happiness, Does it matter, So long as there’s a wind, Who holds the rudder, the captain or the sailor?

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My life passed by In waiting. I prayed a lot for a moment of unity.

Just as I thought

22 My prayers were accepted My destiny put me on hold again.

The seeker cannot find Him by seeking – Waiting is the only choice.

But if He doesn’t come to you You will never reach Him.

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Come, please come!

Don’t look for companions in the bazaars and marketplace. True friendship is in the house of the soul.

Don’t wait, just come While there is still time!

Empty your containers and cups! Run like crazy without looking back!

Come, please come! No matter how, just come!

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Neither memories of the past Nor dreams of the future Are what it means to be alive.

To live means being in the moment with His remembrance. Live in this moment of His remembrance!

The connecting point between past and future, That’s what happiness is, that’s real sovereignty!

The interval, in and out, between a moment of breath. 35

The word unification Comes to my mind again!

Every atom is in flames again And I’m spelling the word silently: uni-fi-cation, uni-fi-cation.

When will I realize it? When it comes to be, neither time nor space will exist.

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Only He and I will be.

Then neither He nor I will be!

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When I see the pure light of my heart It brings me good news Like a sunrise whose light-rays brighten the horizon.

Soon Spring will come! I saw the light of my heart – I found happiness in your face.

Don’t tease me so, O beautiful One! Come to love and be loved! False hopes break hearts and hurt souls –

Once hearts are broken They’re impossible to mend.

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We are alive Without being aware of it.

When we look at our innermost hearts We’re reading a book from within.

While looking at the pages, Without realizing what we’re reading, We melt into the depths of life Like a block of ice that becomes a creek… A creek that flows into a river… A river that enters an endless ocean…

O my heart! We’re melting into an endless ocean!

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Behind the sweet veil of secrecy, I see your face when the curtains are raised As if it were running towards colorlessness, As if your face were running away from me!

26 Behind this opening of your veil of secrecy, One by one, all the lines of your face have faded away. What an immense past you were! You are my final point in this boundless vision.

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They call me an actor. Each moment I’m on stage acting a different part.

Sometimes drama, sometimes comedy – I act without knowing what I’m doing.

They call me an actor. My eyes expect applause from the hearts of my true friends.

They call me an actor. I always act for goodness.

They call me an actor – But in reality I’m just a poor puppet with tears in his eyes!

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There is no moment of mine that goes by without you.

27 I see with you, talk with you, Hear with you Walk around with you, live with you — I’m accustomed to you. I’m filled with you, as if I were born for you alone.

Did you know that Whoever is born with love dies with love too!

To die for you is the best fortune this world can offer. I can’t separate you from me, you from Him! 41

I sense the sweet odors of Spring On the fresh buds of your young branches.

Be careful my flower! Don’t let the morning dew strike you Before you open your eyes.

Every Spring brings on exalted feelings Along with its attractions.

I worry about you From strangers. I worry about you Even from myself!

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You came as you were. I came as myself.

You neither resembled me Nor did I appear as you.

We fell desperately in love And now we are burning in flames.

With no plans and no programs We are burning in the heart of this fire!

Let the desires of this body tell me, “What else do you expect from this world?”

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Oh, I miss… I miss you so much!

Whether we’re together or apart

29 My yearning’s become the prayer on my tongue.

I look for you, I ask of you, I miss my future with you, I miss my past with you.

Oh, I miss… I miss you so much!

I miss you within you!

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Simply because my heart’s fallen in love with you, Now flying birds, colorful flowers, bees and bugs All envy me!

Do you know why they’re so very jealous of me? Because you are my treasure.

Since you are my gem, you are priceless – And I tell everyone why you’re so priceless!

Oh, I don’t know why I tell everyone this!

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Look into my face. What you see is My Heart. I am not there.

If your heart feels deep pain, Again, I am not there.

If you feel dizzy, If you feel drunk when you look into the depths of my eyes – Again, I am not there.

We are temporary beings soon to depart, Like a story beginning “Once Upon A Time…”

Again I exist, again I die.

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The flame of true love is growing With breaths blown from my inner heart. Now this spark is turning into a fire That is about to burn me Along with everything else!

31 O my Lord help me! I’m in flames!

Lessen this fire in my heart Before a wild wind overwhelms me! Make my fire glow in the peace of serenity, Make it burn endlessly in silence…

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I am a broken guitar In the hands of this love.

My strings are all broken, my chest is in flames In the hands of this love.

You polished my chest and restrung the strings to my ears In the hands of this love.

You tuned me, you shaped me In the hands of this love.

You made me sing songs, you made me say things In the hands of this love.

Oh my Sultan! You made everybody listen To this poor man’s strange guitar

32 In the hands of this love.

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You and I – Let’s look ahead. Let’s leave everything in the past behind. Let’s put our lives in order. Let’s be successful in our professions.

For the sake of duty O let it happen!

Let there be no disappointments or sadness. Let love…let us love forever – O let it happen!

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You are the miraj of my heart, You are my door that opens to the Creator,

You are the sun in my horizon, You are the light of my eyes –

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Whenever I look with joy In reality’s realm, in truth, You are the one I always see!

You are the one I lose myself in, You are the one I plunge into, The whirlpool of my daydream!

You are the one falcons hunt, You are the one where sparrows find shelter,

You are the remedy for the anguished, You are the father of orphans,

You are the guest of my eyes, You are the cloud of my heart’s tears,

You are my will from your essence to your essence, You are my desire for so many years.

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When I saw your picture I felt thunder inside me.

34 Fear, then after that, astonishment! As if the wind of separation Had flown into my heart’s garden.

A rose bends its stem – A nightingale sings from far away –

Now my soul is covered with fear. My insides tremble.

Time goes so fast!

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It was destined that we meet. We met.

It was destined that we unite. We united.

Now it’s time to yearn. We yearn.

Each day passes by. There is a new meeting. There is a new unity.

35 There is a new yearning.

All this will take us to A real yearning for Haqq, A real meeting with Haqq, A real union with Haqq.

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At Love’s Bazaar, There is no crowd of buyers, No place to gather. It’s obvious who sells what, Who sells to whom, Who buys from whom – and where!

At Love’s Bazaar There are both sellers and buyers, Like the prophet Adam, Seekers looking for what they’ve lost.

Sellers come to this bazaar With everything they have, Ready to surrender completely. Buyers at this bazaar become unified with their souls.

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There are no rules at this bazaar. There are no faults or losses in this transaction. If there are, Everyone should look only to themselves.

At Love’s Bazaar Fault lies in the eye of the beholder. Fault lies in the hearts of the hard-hearted.

At Love’s Bazaar; Sellers of the eye receive eyes, Sellers of the hand receive hands, Sellers of the soul receive life.

At Love’s Bazaar I came to the stage Where I couldn’t receive what was on sale. I unrobed my veils And handed over my life. I could not bear to see the tears of Lovers. I could never have enough of this love!

I see the very essence of love within you. Don’t you see how many souls are freed at this bazaar? Even if your intellect or heart questions, Grace and Tolerance are there –

37 Remedies for the sorrows of the heart!

At this Love Bazaar If you are among those having difficulty in love, There’s friendship for you here too, At Love’s Bazaar!

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Your greetings arrived Like a remedy for my sick soul, But only your greetings came – My Beloved, why didn’t you come?

While you entertain guests in your palace, Our hearts are in traps of longing.

Come, please come! Come again! Come, please come!

You are the light of my dark nights. Don’t leave me hopeless In the hands of deep sleep!

Come, please come,

38 Come again!

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The book of this love is written in my heart. It doesn’t follow the mind Nor peoples’ usual customs.

All my feelings are in turmoil Like wild wind in a harvest field Unable to discriminate between chaff and grain.

I discovered it only in the poems of Mevlana Rumi After searching through thousands of books. I realized then that I wasn’t mistaken, Nor had my heart deceived me!

The book of this love is written in my heart – I want to share my poems with you Without reviving old memories.

I thought you were leaving yourself But you were really just passing through me Unawares While sharing this moment.

39 Then I understood That watering the bushes Won’t make the roses bloom any faster. You need to wait for The moment decreed by Him.

The book of this love is written in my heart. You will understand this book and read it too When you love as I do.

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If your heart feels the love of the Beloved within, If you intend to be united with the Beloved, Then the Beloved will come as near to you as you wish And as much as you can understand.

Because you cannot observe the Beloved’s wishes completely, The Beloved will come to the station of your understanding. You cannot bear the joy of the Beloved But the Beloved will accept you just as you are.

Is it not sweeter to be close to the Beloved After loving the Beloved first Rather than intending to meet the Beloved?

40 Is it not better to be united with the Beloved After knowing your own desires And going to the Beloved with your own pleasures?

Is it not astounding to be caught In the trap of this love prepared by your own hand?

Be close to your inner heart. Don’t let doubt come into your mind. Don’t be worried, O my heart!

What would the Beloved do with something you don’t like?

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Now it’s my turn – Now it’s time for me to be astonished, For me To see how much I love you!

When my love increases My heart becomes closer and closer to you. You alone permeate each of my moments.

“So tell me why?” “I don’t know!”

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Now it’s my turn, Now it’s time for me to be astonished. “There are many wise men like him, But nobody resembles him,‖ I say.

I see the difference in my feelings But I can’t explain it to you. I walk along feeling that difference – I cherish that difference.

Now it’s time for me to be astonished!

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Every day, with a fresh aspiration, run to your Beloved! Dance and sing after threading Spring flowers in your hair.

Look through the window of the inner heart, Look with your clearest ability to see, Because the Beloved is waiting for you!

With all your attraction, bring the Beloved out From the palace of your inner heart with your own hands!

See, the Beloved is waiting for you! Bring the Beloved out from the palace of your inner heart!

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Desires, attractions, ideas Sometimes go against your thoughts.

Ignore the opposition. Watch and listen.

Look into the mirror, And see the truth.

Look to see if the image is a mirror image. A mirror image isn’t like a real image.

Right is on the left, left is on the right, Opposite to the observer.

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Tonight, a deep loneliness appeared to my heart Like a deep scalding steam.

While listening to Yunus’ songs I lost myself

43 Looking through a window Admiring big snowflakes.

After my eyes filled with tears, Without being aware of it, I found myself in distant places Among forests and mountains In a quiet room With your memories leaning over my shoulder.

I was brought back by the ringing of the telephone, From an imaginary journey, but without you!

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Pick a night! A night in a faraway land of loneliness – While I’m awake, And my doors are wide open to you, Come close to me Like a timid gazelle. Listen to my heartbeats. See how I die And come back to life in each breath… For you!

44 Pick a night! A night in a faraway land of loneliness… Fill cups to the brim With the wine of Unity!

Let’s lose ourselves – Let’s get drunk – Let’s find a sweet moment – Let’s disappear into the Universes – Let’s enter into union with the Beloved – Let us be One!

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I’ve looked for you all my life. Finally I saw – I saw what I was seeking in your face, I saw what I was seeking in your essence.

O Beloved! Love is finally born, Born in my soul, In the horizon of my mind.

We loved with your reproach,

45 We loved with your praise, We gave up doubt – And we loved again.

Believe me there is no return on this path. Even the betrayers of our love will attack me on this road!

I cannot go back. 62

Don’t be astonished At the things I’m writing to tell you – Don’t be astonished Or wonder whether or not you’re worthy of them –

A moment came From the Caravan of Love – An invitation came From the Mountains of Resonance…

You have shown such beauty That a flame fell into your fireplace Burning all senselessness up And bringing the essence up within you!

I don’t know – I still don’t know why!

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He Himself is doing all this! Whatever He does is beautiful!

I still don’t know why!

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Suddenly A sensation strikes my heart. I think This time I’ll find you!

I tell this state of mine to you For you to understand me, For you to know me.

When a sweet moment starts We get drunk together, We lament together, We rejoice together.

It was at the moment I forgot the past.

Just as I was getting ready to say you are, You called out my name!

47 Why?

Suddenly You’ve left me alone again.

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I’ve opened a door and left it ajar From my inner heart.

I’ve opened a window wide Through my eyes.

I’ve found a meaning in my poems. Now I am ready, waiting for you.

If a pleasure comes To your inner heart, If a difference lights up Your eyes, If a yearning comes to you For my poems, Then know I’m waiting for you. First: Go through your inner heart. Then:

48 Look through my eyes to my soul. Then: Say what you feel for this love. Now, I’m ready for you.

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Come O guest! This gateway is not for the hopeless.

Come, whatever you are, Come as yourselves Without opening your lips. Open your eyes and your heart.

Your cure will come. Don’t ask questions, Don’t express your needs.

If you stay quiet, One by one Your needs will all be satisfied.

Wait, and your remedy will come! Come, come as our guest –

49 This gateway is not for the hopeless.

Come like raindrops falling into the ocean.

Come just like that!

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O, my Sultan! To me you are The air I breathe And the water I drink.

I can’t be without you. I can’t stay here without seeing you. You’re my food, You’re my bread, You’re the only sharer of my secrets, You’re the company that flows in my veins – I can’t stay here without seeing you!

O, my Sultan! Don’t look at my words. In the path of lower desires I’ve found the explanation

50 For our separation!

Now I’ve made this separation my company, A companion to my sorrows, Show mercy on me!

Don’t leave this pauper on the path, helpless! Don’t ever leave this pauper alone with his strangeness!

Keep this pauper and his strangeness in your heart!

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There is an incubation period in every love. In the honeycomb, there’s no place for any another lover Until honey is produced.

In every love a hidden darling hides in the secret corner of the heart. There’s no place for any other lover Until the Beloved sits on the throne.

Be careful! If you’ve recently fallen in love with the Beloved Don’t let your eyes and your heart see anything other than the Beloved.

51 You may feel regret. You may fall into the fire of separation!

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Come ahead, but come alone. I come without I.

Let’s find our two souls In the Ocean of Nothingness Where no good or bad deeds exist.

Whatever you’re looking for, Look within this ocean! Look within,

Look within yourself,

Show some striving – But don’t be late.

You must look in order to find.

Where? Between the contraries, Between existence and non-existence,

52 Between night and day, Between the nightingale and the rose, the loved and the beloved Fire and water, Layla and Majnun.

But don’t waste time – Just look… Look within the in between.

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You and I passed through many, many roads, We arrived in distant lands, Through mountains, Through valleys.

You and I gave up the pleasures of the body. Drinks were given to our cups. We drank until our hearts were contented. We gave up drinking.

We went through many pleasures. We ate, we drank.

We gave up our desires. With many kinds of thoughts

53 We produced dreams.

O my Sultan! We couldn’t finish them all. We couldn’t find a moment To lose ourselves in the Beloved!

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We love our pleasures As familiar to us as habits.

We like our pleasures Not to make sense.

We love pleasures Gushing from our innermost hearts,

Pleasures of habits Immune from the environment,

Pleasures of mind, Intellectual addictions,

Pleasure of the heart – The instincts of our inner hearts.

54 What should we do? How should we love?

Aha! We must find both intellect and pleasure In our inner heart!

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I’m sorry I can’t share What comes through my awakening, What comes through my inner pleasures.

I’m sorry I can’t make you hear what I hear. I’m sorry I’m parched with thirst Despite being an ocean.

I’m sorry I can’t bring up the essence Despite knowing where it is.

I’m sorry I can’t bring the mine of this essence to the surface.

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Please understand me: I have two faces.

Sometimes I look different, Sometimes I speak differently, Sometimes I feel different.

Look! I’m two-faced In my essence and my words, In my face and my eyes.

Tell me what you understand from me, What you understand from looking at me, What you understand from pursuing me.

Go ahead, tell my face That I’m two-faced!

78

I miss you each moment.

I am writing a poem of separation,

56 A poem of missing you and yearning.

I ask myself, ―What is this all about? Is it yearning? Is it yearning because of missing you? Is it yearning to bring out the essence?‖

…Missing that melts in the pot of the heart, Missing that shakes and sifts the lover’s heart…

What is it in me that misses so much? My eyes, My ears, My hands, My feet, My mouth, My lips,

O Allah!

All my organs, All my cells and being miss you a lot! 74

Do not sleep my friend. Do not sleep.

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Find a way To come to us silently.

All these journeys – don’t fall asleep – Are for friendship’s sake.

Don’t go to sleep tonight. Come silently. Please come to us, for the sake of God.

Come suddenly, for the sake of God. Hurry and offer love’s drink to my lips!

Forget cups to drink from, Forget hands to hold cups.

Let’s get drunk, You and I, all by ourselves!

But come!

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You and I… We used to converse Each time we met.

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You and I… We used to look for the true friend In the depths of our eyes. We used to look in admiration You and I…

At some point we disappeared – (There will be no you or I…)

Aside from the inner heart there wasn’t a word, There wasn’t a sight. You and I…

Like a moth under the power of the Beloved, Now the world is within the joy of the Beloved!

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O my love I wanted to see you in safe hands – By giving you away, Waiting for someone to receive.

Oh my love, My mind laughs at those who give without receiving.

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He will take you if he loves.

He will never leave it to last For my strange and lonely friend. The only thing to do is wait.

My love, my real friend… We must wait.

We must wait for no other answer! We must wait. 77

A different state has emerged With a Bursting flame of love.

I want to get along with you. My mind pulls away from my heart, But I want to get along with you. How can all these differences be, If my heart is like yours?

A new state dawns on my heart With a burst of love.

60 Even though my mind Places all differences on the surface,

Even though getting along Is not like the taste of the delights of higher states, Still, I want to get along.

I want to get along with you.

78

Once upon a time There was a fireplace. A fire was supposed to be ignited in it.

Old, broken bricks were waiting for that spark. One day a spark fell, The wind of ar-Rahman, The Compassionate One, ignited the flame. All the tree branches burned up in the flames. Regardless of the wind being harsh or smooth, The branches were happy and joyful in the flames.

Later the branches became coals, Then the coals became ashes. One day, the wind of ar-Rahman came again And blew the ashes away.

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Now nothing is left behind. Neither fire nor fireplace, Nor sign of any branches.

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I have often wondered about the secrets of these poems, Poems that seem to have been written by a drunk, Poems that secretly make the reader sad, Poems that set hearts on fire insanely.

I asked my mind, ―Why?‖ But no answer came, No logical explanation.

I asked Love. Love said, ―What are you talking about?‖ Love wasn’t even aware of any contradictions.

Then I asked space. But it had no address, no particular place.

Then I asked time. Sometimes an answer came, sometimes not. So I asked again, ―When?‖ Time answered, “When you’re jealous!”

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In the path of true divine love Don’t look around. Don’t ask what happened. Don’t say, “What form does it take?‖

Never think things like “expected,” “unexpected,” “not proper!”

Ah! He offered tea!

O my God! He spat in your mouth!

Does any of that matter? He has given himself to you as a gift Through those cells of his melting in your mouth!

Later on this path You will find out that there are some actions Which look regular and ordinary, While there are others, though they look the same,

63 Whose true meanings are different.

These are Sudden and unexpected, Beyond logic, Testing both mind and intellect. These are ―sorter actions,‖ like sieves… They sort out the true lovers on this path. 81

O my Heart, You are trying to hide new fresh feelings The way morning dew tries to cover new grasses, Or clouds try to cover the sun. By the budding flowers on your branches It’s obvious this is your first Spring.

On the other hand, Falling yellow leaves, Dry burnt leaves under hot sun, Leaves fallen on dry grass, Every falling leaf brings on memories of the past. It’s obvious this is your first Fall.

Does it matter, Spring or Fall? All joys, All pleasures are from you.

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Sadness and difficulties are from me.

Like Spring and Fall, The yearning of the past stretching to the future Is all that lies between us.

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I have not forgotten the love That has burned inside me for so many years.

Once I was asked to look inside rather than outside And the yearning and feeling of love created a deep well within me.

In my heart, sorrows and pains filtered the drops, Then the drops began to fill Very slowly from the bottom up.

Thirsty seekers began to gather around this well To draw up water to quench their thirst: Water made up of The satisfactions and pleasures of the inner heart.

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65

A flame falls into my heart. A Pain aches inside, A pain of expectation, A pain that squeezes like a labor pain.

My face is pale, My head is dizzy, My heart is bleeding, Bleeding for your labor pain.

I ask the Almighty To end this pain. I plead with Him In the name of Jilani, I beg to begin your labor pain!

O My God, All your lovers, Mountains, rocks, birds, Are distressed day and night – Everyone’s waiting for the happy day, Everyone’s praying for your labor pain! 84

Without even noticing I forgot happiness

66 While struggling in the trap of the world.

Wherever I looked, Whatever I gazed on, There were new desires and new wishes.

To escape from my endless desires and wishes That made my soul a prisoner, I have fallen into the fire of love Like a moth.

Now my desires are busy burning me up again. O my God, I’m dying by my own desires,

I’m dying with my desires, I’m dying of my desires.

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First find seclusion. Then read them along with the poet.

These poems bring forth the essence from within. These poems puncture a hole in you like a pipe That conducts water to the surface.

67 These poems introduce you to your true self. These poems are like delicious sherbet that makes you drunk. These poems have the taste of aged, sweet wine.

These poems make the beloved known. These poems mature you with love. These poems slay lovers with true love.

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The moment of being in union has arrived! Stillness and silence have permeated my being. My tongue has ceased, My ears hear nothing, Both world and mankind are melting before my eyes!

The moment of being in union has arrived! Now we’re gazing eye to eye. I see my eyes in yours, I see the light and sparkle of yearning eyes. Reveal your true self to me Hidden there behind you!

The moment of being in union has arrived! Let me walk hand in hand with you outwardly. Tell me what comes through your sweet tongue!

68 Tell me ―You are…‖

The moment of being in union has arrived! I say “You are…” aloud, You say ―You are…‖ But we both say “He” inside – silently.

The moment of being in union has arrived! We’ve found ourselves on a clear path, A path that astonishes us, A path that takes us Through a valley between two mountains.

The moment of being in union has arrived! You and I, eye to eye, hand in hand! One second we’re down to earth, underneath the deep… The next moment we’re flying above the highest skies!

The moment of being in union has arrived! Look, raindrops are falling from the heavens! Look at how mother earth’s dry lands are happy now, Drunk on water! Look at how the earth drinks water with such joy!

The moment of being in union has arrived! This moment couldn’t have happened without hardships, Like the wild turmoil of boiling water in a pot

69 Thrashing without unity.

But without being drunk, This moment of true union couldn’t happen! O my love, It just couldn’t happen!

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Purify yourself to uncover the hidden beauty Under these layers of skin.

There is a beloved hidden away in far-off lands.

To see the beloved just once Will make you will forget everything.

Even if you see the beloved just once His beauty will make everything else null and void.

So purify yourself.

Purify yourself so you can come. Purify yourself so you’ll be attractive.

Purify yourself so your attraction will make the beloved overflow

70 Through your skin!

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You are the one I lost many years ago.

I’m looking for you again Just after finding you again.

Don’t think I’m searching for anyone else. I’m looking for you!

Go on, lift up your curtains, open your windows! It doesn’t matter…

Even if one day you decide to lower your shades And close your windows, Even if one day you decide to send me away to others, And make me go through one door after another,

It doesn’t matter… I’ll still be looking for you!

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Oh, if only I could see you even once! That’s why I’m looking… Looking into the deepest part of your eyes.

But it’s impossible for me to see you Unless you look back at me –

It’s impossible for me to enter Unless you open the gate.

Sometimes you open it a little, Sometimes you close it.

When will you open wide? When are you going to open?

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This is the instant When time is at its most beautiful, When the true beauty of your light is at its greatest majesty, When the beauty and reflection of your face Is at its zenith!

This is the instant

72 When it is so easy to reach you, When access is easy through your eyes – Now is the time to establish your kingdom!

This is the instant When you will recognize your beloved, When you will find your beloved.

This very moment is the true instant, This very instant is the one That may never come round again, This very moment Is the one you may never find again!

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If you are truly in love, When are you going to call your beloved? When are you going to go to your beloved?

If you are truly in love Are you going to visit your beloved when you’ve forgotten? Are you going to go to your beloved when you’re far away?

Know this!

73 Anyone can go to their beloved when they’ve missed the beloved, Anyone can do that – it’s like eating when you’re hungry!

The true way is Visiting without yearning, Visiting before missing, Visiting without willing, Visiting without being influenced by desires!

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I have no answer. Your closeness surrounds all my corners. Your closeness burns me in flames.

Don’t ask me anything. The reflection of your pure light Covers me all over. Your light heals me.

Don’t ask me anything. Your sweet taste Is a taste

74 I’ve never felt before.

I’m overwhelmed. My mind has stopped. I’m in a state of total ecstasy!

Don’t ask me anything! I have no answer.