Do not ask a Sufi anything,
For he will often reply;
Yes and No,
Do and Do Not,
Stay and Go,
And while it matters a lot,
It matters naught to God,
For many times,
He will perceive
What you really wish,
And will say that
Just to please.
For verily,
He will know your capacity,
And what value is truth
If you cannot bear it?
Rather than force you to disobedience,
He will send you on your merry way,
Thinking you have gained some wisdom,
When in truth, he gave you nothing,
But what you find pleasing.
there is something about this piece that leads to much inner reflection..
ReplyDeleteI like how the poet confuses the senses with that first stanza about the sufi saying yes and no, stay and go... leading the reader through the dualistic oppositions which seem to rule our daily lives..
then comes the punch line.. 'for what is the value of truth if you cannot bear it' bringing the reader back down to earth..
provocative of much contemplation!
Good poem! Thanks for sharing it..
- Ailill