stay with that silence

...

There was a time we lost ourselves in others,

a time we ate the best of foods.

There was time we relied on the intellect,

a time we looked for fortune

but all this had no value in the end.

.

For a mouthful of food and some bitter herbs

we went everywhere,

we made so many plans

one day it was Rome,

the next day it was Africa.

.

We entered a raging battlefield, for what?

a few crumbs of bread.

.

Lose your soul in God's love, I swear

there is no other way.

.

Stay with that silence.

I once ran toward the knowledge of this world;

now the papers are packed, the pens are broken

O Saaqi, bring on the wine!

.

~ Rumi

from A Garden Beyond Paradise

version by Jonathan Star

.