A Beggar

A beggar smiled at me and offered me alms

In a dream last night, my heart sprang with delight.

His beauty and grace which shone from his tattered

Presence took me by storm until I woke at dawn.

His poverty was riches, it covered my body in silk.

In that dream I heard the beckoning sighs of lovers,

I heard soft cries of agonized joy saying: “Take this,

Dring and be complete!” I saw before me a ring

Jewelled in poverty and then it nested on my ear.

From the root of my surging soul a hundred tremors

Rose as I was taken and pinned down by the surging sea.

Then heaven groaned with bliss and made a beggar of me.

Divan 2015

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi