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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG OF SEID NIMETOLLAH OF KUHISTAN by AMIR NURU'D-DIN NI'MATU'LLAH

First Line: SPIN THE BALL! I REEL, I BURN
Last Line: WHAT MEN CHATTER KNOW I NOT.
Subject(s): DANCING & DANCERS; DERVISHES;
[@3Among the religious customs of the dervishes is an astronomical dance, in
which the dervish imitates the movements of the heavenly bodies, by spinning on
his own axis, whilst at the same time he revolves round the Sheikh in the
centre, representing the sun; and, as he spins, he sings the Song of Seid
Nimetollah of Kuhistan.@1]

Spin the ball! I reel, I burn,
Nor head from foot can I discern,
Nor my heart from love of mine,
Nor the wine-cup from the wine.
All my doing, all my leaving,
Reaches not to my perceiving;
Lost in whirling spheres I rove,
And know only that I love.

I am seeker of the stone,
Living gem of Solomon;
From the shore of souls arrived,
In the sea of sense I dived;
But what is land, or what is wave,
To me who only jewels crave?
Love is the air-fed fire intense,
And my heart the frankincense;
As the rich aloes flames, I glow,
Yet the censer cannot know.
I'm all-knowing, yet unknowing;
Stand not, pause not, in my going.

Ask not me, as Muftis can,
To recite the Alcoran;
Well I love the meaning sweet, --
I tread the book beneath my feet.

Lo! the God's love blazes higher,
Till all difference expire.
What are Moslems? what are Giaours?
All are Love's, and all are ours.
I embrace the true believers,
But I reck not of deceivers.
Firm to Heaven my bosom clings,
Heedless of inferior things;
Down on earth there, underfoot,
What men chatter know I not.



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