Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death."

And he said:

You would know the secret of death.

But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?

The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.

If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.

For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;

And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.

Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.

Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?

Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.

And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

At the city gate and by your fireside I have seen you prostrate yourself and worship your own freedom,

Even as slaves humble themselves before a tyrant and praise him though he slays them.

Ay, in the grove of the temple and in the shadow of the citadel I have seen the freest among you wear their freedom as a yoke and a handcuff.

And my heart bled within me; for you can only be free when even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you, and when you cease to speak of freedom as a goal and a fulfillment.

You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care nor your nights without a want and a grief,

But rather when these things girdle your life and yet you rise above them naked and unbound.

And how shall you rise beyond your days and nights unless you break the chains which you at the dawn of your understanding have fastened around your noon hour?

In truth that which you call freedom is the strongest of these chains, though its links glitter in the sun and dazzle the eyes.

And what is it but fragments of your own self you would discard that you may become free?

If it is an unjust law you would abolish, that law was written with your own hand upon your own forehead.

You cannot erase it by burning your law books nor by washing the foreheads of your judges, though you pour the sea upon them.

And if it is a despot you would dethrone, see first that his throne erected within you is destroyed.

For how can a tyrant rule the free and the proud, but for a tyranny in their own freedom and a shame in their won pride?

And if it is a care you would cast off, that care has been chosen by you rather than imposed upon you.

And if it is a fear you would dispel, the seat of that fear is in your heart and not in the hand of the feared.

Verily all things move within your being in constant half embrace, the desired and the dreaded, the repugnant and the cherished, the pursued and that which you would escape.

These things move within you as lights and shadows in pairs that cling.

And when the shadow fades and is no more, the light that lingers becomes a shadow to another light.

And thus your freedom when it loses its fetters becomes itself the fetter of a greater freedom.

A young man of strong body, weakened by hunger, sat on the walker's portion of the street stretching his hand toward all who passed, begging and repeating his hand toward all who passed, begging and repeating the sad song of his defeat in life, while suffering from hunger and from humiliation.

When night came, his lips and tongue were parched, while his hand was still as empty as his stomach.

He gathered himself and went out from the city, where he sat under a tree and wept bitterly. Then he lifted his puzzled eyes to heaven while hunger was eating his inside, and he said, "Oh Lord, I went to the rich man and asked for employment, but he turned me away because of my shabbiness; I knocked at the school door, but was forbidden solace because I was empty- handed; I sought any occupation that would give me bread, but all to no avail. In desperation I asked alms, but They worshippers saw me and said "He is strong and lazy, and he should not beg."

"Oh Lord, it is Thy will that my mother gave birth unto me, and now the earth offers me back to You before the Ending."

His expression then changed. He arose and his eyes now glittered in determination. He fashioned a thick and heavy stick from the branch of the tree, and pointed it toward the city, shouting, "I asked for bread with all the strength of my voice, and was refused. Not I shall obtain it by the strength of my muscles! I asked for bread in the name of mercy and love, but humanity did not heed. I shall take it now in the name of evil!"

The passing years rendered the youth a robber, killer and destroyer of souls; he crushed all who opposed him; he amassed fabulous wealth with which he won himself over to those in power. He was admired by colleagues, envied by other thieves, and feared by the multitudes.

His riches and false position prevailed upon the Emir to appoint him deputy in that city - the sad process pursued by unwise governors. Thefts were then legalized; oppression was supported by authority; crushing of the weak became commonplace; the throngs curried and praised.

Thus does the first touch of humanity's selfishness make criminals of the humble, and make killers of the sons of peace; thus does the early greed of humanity grow and strike back at humanity a thousand fold!

Aku ini percikan benang-benang perak yang dihamburkan dari
syurga oleh dewa-dewa.
Alam raya kemudian meraupku, bagi menyirami ladang dan lembahnya.

Aku ini taburan mutiara, yang dipetik dari mahkota Raja Ishtar, oleh puteri Fajar,
untuk menghiasi taman-taman mayapada.

Pabila kuurai air mata, bukit-bukit tertawa;
Pabila aku meniup rendah, bunga-bunga gembira,
Dan bila aku menunduk, segalanya cerah-ceria.

Ladang dan awan mega berkasih-mesra,
Di antara mereka aku pembawa amanat setia,
Yang satu kulepas dari dahaga,
Yang lain kuubati dari luka.

Suara guruh mengkhabarkan kedatanganku
Pelangi di langit menghantar pemergianku,
Bagai kehidupan duniawi, diriku,
Dimulakan pada kaki kekuatan alam,
Dan diakhiri di bawah sayap kematian.

Aku muncul dari dalam jantung samudera,
Melayang tinggi bersama pawana,
Pabila kulihat ladang memerlukanku,
Aku turun, kubelai mesra bunga-bunga dan pepohonan
Dalam berjuta cara.

Jemariku lembut bermain pada jendela-jendela kaca
Dan berita yang kubawa membawa bahagia,
Semua orang dapat mendengarnya, namun hanya yang peka,
Dapat memahami maknanya.

Panas udara melahirkan aku,
Namun sebagai balasannya aku membunuhnya,
Laksana wanita yang mengungguli jejaka,
Dengan kekuatan yang dihisap daripadanya.

Diriku helaan nafas samudera
Gelak tertawa padang ladang,
Dan cucuran air mata dari syurga.

Maka, disertai cinta kasih -
dihela dari kedalaman laut kasih-sayang;
tertawa ria dari rona padang jiwa,
air mata dari kenangan syurga abadi.

Where shall you seek beauty, and how shall you find her unless she herself be your way and your guide?

And how shall you speak of her except she be the weaver of your speech?

The aggrieved and the injured say, "Beauty is kind and gentle.

Like a young mother half-shy of her own glory she walks among us."

And the passionate say, "Nay, beauty is a thing of might and dread.

Like the tempest she shakes the earth beneath us and the sky above us."

The tired and the weary say, "beauty is of soft whisperings. She speaks in our spirit.

Her voice yields to our silences like a faint light that quivers in fear of the shadow."

But the restless say, "We have heard her shouting among the mountains,

And with her cries came the sound of hoofs, and the beating of wings and the roaring of lions."

At night the watchmen of the city say, "Beauty shall rise with the dawn from the east."

And at noontide the toilers and the wayfarers say, "we have seen her leaning over the earth from the windows of the sunset."

In winter say the snow-bound, "She shall come with the spring leaping upon the hills."

And in the summer heat the reapers say, "We have seen her dancing with the autumn leaves, and we saw a drift of snow in her hair."

All these things have you said of beauty.

Yet in truth you spoke not of her but of needs unsatisfied,

And beauty is not a need but an ecstasy.

It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth,

But rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted.

It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear,

But rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears.

It is not the sap within the furrowed bark, nor a wing attached to a claw,

But rather a garden forever in bloom and a flock of angels for ever in flight.

People of Orphalese, beauty is life when life unveils her holy face.

But you are life and you are the veil.

Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror.

But you are eternity and you are the mirror.

Dan seorang pakar astronomi berkata, "Guru, bagaimanakah perihal Waktu?"

Dan dia menjawab:

Kau ingin mengukur waktu yang tanpa ukuran dan tak terukur.

Engkau akan menyesuaikan tingkah lakumu dan bahkan mengarahkan perjalanan jiwamu menurut jam dan musim.

Suatu ketika kau ingin membuat anak sungai, di mana atas tebingnya kau akan duduk dan menyaksikan alirannya.


Namun keabadian di dalam dirimu adalah kesedaran akan kehidupan nan abadi,

Dan mengetahui bahawa semalam hanyalah kenangan utk hari ini dan esok adalah
harapan dan impian utk hari ini.

Dan yang menyanyi dan merenung dari dalam jiwa, sentiasa menghuni ruang semesta yang menaburkan bintang di angkasa.

Siapa di antara kalian yang tidak merasa bahawa daya mencintainya tiada batasnya?

Dan siapa pula yang tidak merasa bahawa cinta sejati, walau tiada batas,
terkandung di dalam inti dirinya, dan tiada bergerak dari fikiran cinta ke
fikiran cinta, pun bukan dari tindakan cinta ke tindakan cinta yang lain?

Dan bukanlah sang waktu sebagaimana cinta, tiada terbahagi dan tiada kenal ruang?


Tapi jika di dalam fikiranmu baru mengukur waktu ke dalam musim, biarkanlah tiap musim merangkumi semua musim yang lain,

Dan biarkanlah hari ini memeluk masa silam dengan kenangan dan masa depan dengan kerinduan.

He is a link between this and the coming world.
He is a pure spring from which all thirsty souls may drink.

He is a tree watered by the River of Beauty,
Bearing fruit which the hungry heart craves;

He is a nightingale,
Soothing the depressed spirit with his beautiful melodies;
He is a white cloud appearing over the horizon,
Ascending and growing until it fills the face of the sky.
Then it falls on the flows in the field of Life,
Opening their petals to admit the light.

He is an angel,
Sent by the goddess to preach the Deity's gospel;
He is a brilliant lamp,
Unconquered by darkness
And inextinguishable by the wind.
It is filled with oil by Ihstar of Love,
And lighted by Apollon of Music.

He is a solitary figure,
Robed in simplicity and kindness;
He sits upon the lap of Nature to draw his inspiration,
And stays up in the silence of the night,
Awaiting the descending of the spirit.

He is a sower
Who sows the seeds of his heart in the prairies of affection,
And humanity reaps the harvest for her nourishment.

This is the poet - whom the people ignore in this life,
And who is recognized only when he bids the earthly world farewell
And returns to his arbour in heaven.

This is the poet - who asks naught of humanity but a smile.
This is the poet - whose spirit ascends and fills the firmament with beautiful sayings;
Yet the people deny themselves his radiance.

Until when shall the people remain asleep? Until when
shall they continue to glorify those who attain greatness by moments of advantage?
How long shall they ignore those who enable them to see the beauty of their spirit,
Symbol of peace and love?
Until when shall human beings honour the dead and forget the living,
Who spend their lives encircled in misery,
And who consume themselves,
Like burning candles to illuminate the way
For the ignorant and lead them into the path of light?

Poet, you are the life of this life,
And you have triumphed over the ages of despite their severity.

Poet, you will one day rule the hearts,
And therefore, your kingdom has no ending.

Poet, examine your crown of thorns;
You will find concealed in it a budding wreath of laurel.

Engkau dibisiki bahawa hidup adalah kegelapan
Dan dengan penuh ketakutan
Engkau sebarkan apa yang telah dituturkan padamu
penuh kebimbangan

Kuwartakan padamu bahawa hidup
adalah kegelapan
jika tidak diselimuti oleh kehendak
Dan segala kehendak akan buta bila tidak diselimuti pengetahuan
Dan segala macam pengetahuan akan kosong
bila tidak diiringi kerja
Dan segala kerja hanyalah kehampaan
kecuali disertai cinta

Maka bila engkau bekerja dengan cinta
Engkau sesungguhnya tengah
menambatkan dirimu
Dengan wujudnya kamu, wujud manusia lain
Dan wujud Tuhan.

In the silence of the night Death descended from God toward the earth. He hovered above a city and pierced the dwellings with his eyes. He say the spirits floating on wings of dreams, and the people who were surrendered to the Slumber.

When the moon fell below the horizon and the city became black, Death walked silently among the houses -- careful to touch nothing -- until he reached a palace. He entered through the bolted gates undisturbed, and stood by the rich man's bed; and as Death touched his forehead, the sleeper's eyes opened, showing great fright.

When he saw the specter, he summoned a voice mingled with fear and anger, and said, "God away, oh horrible dream; leave me, you dreadful ghost. Who are you? How did you enter this place? What do you want? Leave this place at once, for I am the lord of the house and will call my slaves and guards, and order them to kill you!"

Then Death spoke, softly but with smoldering thunder, "I am Death. Stand and bow!"

The man responded, "What do you want? What have you come here when I have not yet finished my affairs? What see you from strength such as mine? Go to the weak man, and take him away!

"I loathe the sight of your bloody paws and hollow face, and my eyes take sick at your horrible ribbed winds and cadaverous body."

After a moment of fearful realization he added, "No, No, oh merciful Death! Mind not talk, for even fear reveals what the heart forbids.

"Take a bushelful of my gold, or a handful of my slave's souls, but leave me. I have accounts with Life requiring settling; I have due from people much gold; my ships have not reached the harbor; my demand, but spare my life. Death, I own harems of supernatural beauty; your choice is my gift to you. Give heed, Death -- I have but one child, and I love him dearly for he is my only joy in this life. I offer supreme sacrifice -- take him, but spare me!"

Death murmured, "You are not rich, but pitifully poor." Then Death took the hand of that earthly slave, removed his reality, and gave to the angels the heavy task of correction.

And Death walked slowly amidst the dwellings of the poor until he reached the most miserable he could find. He entered and approached a bed upon which a youth slept fitfully. Death touched his eyes; the lad sprang up as he saw Death standing by, and, with a voice full of love and hope he said, "Here I am, my beautiful Death. Accept my soul, for you are the hope of my dreams. Be their accomplishment! Embrace me, oh beloved Death! You are merciful; do not leave me. You are God's messenger; deliver me to Him. You are the right hand of Truth and the heart of Kindness; do not neglect me.

"I have begged for you many times, but you did not come; I have sought you, but you avoided me; I called out to you, but you listened not. You hear me now -- embrace my soul, beloved Death!"

Death placed his softened hand upon the trembling lips, removed all reality, and enfolded it beneath his wings for secure conduct. And returning to the sky, Death looked back and whispered his warning:

"Only those return to Eternity
Who on earth seek out Eternity."

Keindahan menjadi milik usia muda, tapi keremajaan yang untuknya dunia ini diciptakan
tidak lebih dari sekadar mimpi yang manisnya diperhamba oleh kebutaan yang menghilangkan kesedaran.

Akankah hari itu datang, ketika orang-orang bijak menyatukan kemanisan
masa muda dan kenikmatan pengetahuan?
Sebab masing-masing hanyalah kosong bila hanya sendirian.
Akankah hari itu datang ketika alam menjadi guru yang mengajar manusia,
dan kemanusiaan menjadi buku bacaan sedangkan kehidupan adalah sekolah sehari-hari?

Hasrat masa muda akan kesenangan-kenikmatan tidak terlalu menuntut tanggung jawab -hanya akan terpenuhi bila fajar telah menyelak kegelapan hari.

Banyak lelaki yang tenggelam dalam keasyikan hari-hari masa muda yang mati
dan beku;
banyak perempuan yang menyesali dan mengutuk tahun-tahun tak berguna mereka
seperti raungan singa betina yang kehilangan anak;
dan banyak para pemuda dan pemudi yang menggunakan hati mereka
sekadar sebagai alat penggali kenangan pahit masa depan,
melukai diri melalui kebodohan dengan anak panah yang tajam dan beracun
kerana kehilangan kebahagiaan.

Usia tua adalah permukaan kulit bumi; ia harus, melalui cahaya dan kebenaran,
memberikan kehangatan bagi benih-benih masa muda yang ada dibawahnya,
melindungi dan memenuhi keperluan mereka hingga nisan datang dan menyempurnakan kehidupan masa muda yang sedang tumbuh dengan kebangkitan baru

Kita berjalan terlalu lambat ke arah kebangkitan spiritual, dan perjalanan itu seluas angkasa tanpa batas, sebagai pemahaman keindahan kewujudan melalui rasa kasih dan cinta kepada keindahan tersebut.

Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course.
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when I'm dead.
I cannot live on tomorrow's bread.

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need.

I live here, too.
I want freedom
Just as you.

Helen, thy beauty is to me
Like those Nicean barks of yore,
That gently, o'er a perfumed sea,
The weary, wayworn wanderer bore
To his own native shore.

On desperate seas long wont to roam,
Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face,
Thy Naiad airs have brought me home
To the glory that was Greece,
To the grandeur that was Rome.

Lo! in yon brilliant window niche,
How statue-like I see thee stand,
The agate lamp within thy hand!
Ah, Psyche, from the regions which
Are Holy Land!

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon's sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear.

I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.

I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall never see.

For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.

I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.

But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.

Sing all ye joyful, now sing all together!
The wind's in the tree-top, the wind's in the heather;
The stars are in blossom, the moon is in flower,
And bright are the windows of night in her tower.

Dance all ye joyful, now dance all together!
Soft is the grass, and let foot be like feather!
The river is silver, the shadows are fleeting;
Merry is May-time, and merry our meeting.

Sigh no more pine, till the wind of the morn!
Fall Moon! Dark be the land!
Hush! Hush! Oak, ash and thorn!
Hushed by all water, till dawn is at hand!