Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

O World, you may not have lasted more than

the usual fourscore and ten for anyone, but still

you are necessary. You may be as wretched as

a thorn on the eye, but essentially you are

as necessary as sight itself. You may have

broken, but you have mended as well.

Like a chameleon you take on the colour

of corruption from the corrupt, but to the pure

you are pure. To those who despise you

sayYou have not known me.

If you are modest and sedate you ll find me

modest and sedate as well. I gave you

righteousness but you sought from me

only ill. If you are wise you will be

saved from me. Why hate that from which

you ve been saved? God has given me

to you as a thoroughfare - why do you

loiter along the way? You are a branch

of the tree God planted for your sake -

if you grow up crooked, you will end up

in the fireplace - grow straight

and you will be saved. Yes, crookedness

will land you in the flames, and no one

will ask if you were almond or pistachio.

You are the arrow of God to His enemies -

why have cut yourself on your own point?

You yourself have gone astray from deliverance -

why complain to me that you have lost

and cannot find the way again?