A novice had a little store of gold. His sheikh knew this, although he had not been told. There was a journey that they had to make – The two set out, the young man and his sheikh; Then night came to the valley where they walked, And into the path they followed forked, The novice trembled for his hidden gold (Which makes its owners less than bold); “Which way to you advise?” he asked his sheikh. “There are two paths; which is the best to take?” The sheikh said: “Throw out what you cannot hide, Then either way will …
Tag: Canticle of the Birds
Moths gathered in a fluttering throng one night To learn the truth about the candle’s light, And they decided one of them should go To gather news of the elusive glow. One flew till the distance he discerned A palace window where a candle burned – And went no nearer; back again he flew To tell the others what he thought he knew. The mentor of the moths dismissed his claim, Remarking: “He knows nothing of the flame.” A moth more eager than the one before Set out and passed beyond the palace door. He hovered in the aura …
Late one moonless night The Sîmorgh first appeared She let a feather float down through the air, And rumours of its fame spread everywhere (i) The Canticle of the Birds written by the mystical poet Attar tells the story of all the birds in the world, who one day gather together to discuss who their Sovereign king is and where he could be found for they all have a yearning to meet the Sovereign Being. Among them, the little bird Hoopoe, chosen and sanctified by King Solomon knows that Sîmorgh is the Sovereign Being’s name and that she lives …
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