mirrors of perfection

The master bonesetter will pay his call

where there is someone with a broken leg.

When there's no sickly patient, how then can

the beauty of the healing arts be known?

And how can alchemy be seen if copper's

low-grade, inferior nature is not known?

Deficiencies are mirrors of perfection;

the vilest things are mirrors of His glory.

For opposites make known their opposites

as honey's taste is known is vinegar.

Whoever understands his own defects

has galloped to perfection with ten horses.

And why is he not flying to his Lord

is that he thinks himself already perfect.

There is no sickness of the soul that's worse

than being convinced of your perfection, sir!

Much blood must flow out of your heart and eyes

until this smugness takes its leave of you.

~ Rumi

from the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi

excerpt from Joseph and his guest
translation by alan williams

art by gustav klimt