09. Ode to Spring
Winter flees, Spring returns new youth
to this aged world, the Azure pool
is filled with sparkling wine, the silver desert
set with emeralds, and the wind,
whipping the flags of February, now
in march takes on a hint of incense.
The poor naked willow now is clothed
in fine gray silk and ear-rings. The meadow
has washed its face, the flowers eyes
have opened, earth has regained awareness,
for the Morning Breeze has breathed upon it
the Messiah s revivifying incantations.
The garden grows fresh as the sky;
the narcissus sparks like the Pleiades.
The clouds - are they not Joseph s miracle?
For the desert has grown fair as the face
of Potiphar s wife. Tulips blush
like so many young girls, the narcissus
stares about like a frenzied lover.
Violets, released from the persecution
of winter snow, have donned the robes
of Christians. Crystal spools are shady,
the air clear, the raven slinks away,
the nightingale begins to practise his scales,
the garden is paradise, the tulip s cheeks
grow luminous as the skin of black-eyed
houris. The crow, like a conquered blackamoor
enslaves himself to the rose and nightingale -
a trellis of white rose-vines punctuates the air
like the silver mosaic of the heavens.
Winter bows to Spring like the enemies of Faith
before Ali; the raven cowers in fear
like the foes of the Imams - hypocrisy
is woven in its black robe, like the gowns
of the Abbasids. The Sun shines forth
like a Fatimid as it ascends the slope
from its winter exile, its rays as bright
as Zulfiqar, giving vigour to the rose
as to the pearl-white steed of Ali.
Reaching the battlefield of the Equinox, the Sun
declares war on the cold season - Day
increases like Faith, like the People of Friendship;
Night shrinks like unbelief and grows dark
with melancholy as the People of Hypocrisy.
The world like a heart which remembers
now swells with light, beneficence and virtue.
It was till now as gloomy as a forgetful soul,
but has grown bright as a wiseman,
now that the Lord of the Planets in the sign of the Ram
has grown powerful in justice, the principle
of all goodness (was not Chosroes known
throughout the world for his justice?)
Behold what marvels rise with the Sun
in the Vernal Equinox: how this rotten mire
has been transformed to rubies and ambergris.
He is saved who waxes eloquent of knowledge
and justice, wherein are all blessings; who fulfils
the intellect s desire (for the world was made
only for wisdom and equity). True beauty
is knowledge, not the world s false tinsel.
Be not deceived by noise: seek truth,
and not the world. Do not swell with pride
to hear you ve been appointed Judge
in Balkh or Bukhara - know that true knowledge
of religion is eclipsed when the affairs of Faith
are entrusted to the rabble. Close your ears
to the words of an ignoramus, even if
he s famous; seek the Why and How of things
lest the world constrict about you like
a shrinking ring. Try to convey your ideas
to your opponents, for unless it is tried
in the fire of debate, science cannot
be purified. (He who goes to a court
without judge, jury or counsel for the prosecution
will naturally bring back a verdict
pleasing to himself - but perhaps wrong!)
Imitate the truly great, and be humble
before those who have risen through knowledge:
look how the black earth, by obeying
the palmtree, is turned, bit by bit
into sweet dates. The truly rich have
gained their wealth through knowledge and patience -
imitate the noble, for a noble mind
is the alpha and omega of a lofty spirit.
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