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 …
Tag: hoopoe
Dear hoopoe, welcome! You will be our guide It was on you King Solomon relied To carry secret messages between His court and distant Sheba’s lovely queen (distichs 617-618) King Solomon had the gift of speaking the language of the birds and other animals all of which would gather in his court and make speeches. One day, “the hoopoe or hudhud among the birds had the privilege to carry the letter from the holy King Solomon to the pagan Queen of Sheba and her benighted people, to lead them all out of spiritual darkness and to bring them to the …
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