some gnats come from the grass
to speak with solomon.
"o solomon! you are the champion of the oppressed
you give justice to the little guys,
and they don't get any littler than us.
we are tiny metaphors for frailty.
can you defend us?"
"who has mistreated you?"
"our complaint is with the wind?"
"well" says solomon
"you have pretty voices you gnats,
but remember a judge can not listen to just one side
i must hear both litigates."
"off course!" agree the gnats.
"summon the east wind" calls out solomon.
and the wind arrives almost immediately.
what happened to the gnat plaintiffs?
GONE!
such is the way of every seeker
who comes to complain at the high court!
when the Presence arrives,
where are the seekers?
first there is dying,
then union
- like gnats,
inside the wind.
- Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks -
to speak with solomon.
"o solomon! you are the champion of the oppressed
you give justice to the little guys,
and they don't get any littler than us.
we are tiny metaphors for frailty.
can you defend us?"
"who has mistreated you?"
"our complaint is with the wind?"
"well" says solomon
"you have pretty voices you gnats,
but remember a judge can not listen to just one side
i must hear both litigates."
"off course!" agree the gnats.
"summon the east wind" calls out solomon.
and the wind arrives almost immediately.
what happened to the gnat plaintiffs?
GONE!
such is the way of every seeker
who comes to complain at the high court!
when the Presence arrives,
where are the seekers?
first there is dying,
then union
- like gnats,
inside the wind.
- Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks -
[>] listen to this gorgeous poem recited by Coleman Barks himself, performed at Mythic Journeys Conference | photo credit
For, when Divine Justice arrive, there is no power that could repel the judgment: and swift in reckoning is the Divine! - The Quran (13:41)
Gnats Inside the Wind | The gnats come to Solomon to seek justice, and find non-existence: a poetic version of the Mathnawi story from Coleman Barks, and the literal translation by Nicholson, upon which Barks based his version.
For, when Divine Justice arrive, there is no power that could repel the judgment: and swift in reckoning is the Divine! - The Quran (13:41)
Gnats Inside the Wind | The gnats come to Solomon to seek justice, and find non-existence: a poetic version of the Mathnawi story from Coleman Barks, and the literal translation by Nicholson, upon which Barks based his version.
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