Venice masks
Showing posts with label 13th century. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 13th century. Show all posts

Sunday, 14 June 2026

'Tis God's light that illumines the senses' light - Jalal al-Din Rumi

'Tis God's light that illumines the senses' light,
That is the meaning of "Light upon light."
The senses' light draws us earthwards,
God's light carries us heavenwards.

Sunday, 26 April 2026

O Lover of gentle nature - Marguerite Porete

O Lover of gentle nature,
You are to be much praised:
Generous, courteous without measure,
Sum of all goodness,
You do not will to do anything,
Lover, without my will.

Sunday, 1 March 2026

Resignation (Story 1) - Saadi Shirazi

Our happiness is given by God alone,
And by strong arms and fingers is not won; 
When heaven refuses thee fair fortune’s smile 
Thy bravest efforts cannot her beguile;

Sunday, 28 September 2025

The morning appears immeasurably beautiful - Wenceslaus II

The morning appears immeasurably beautiful,
the night must descend from her throne,
which she held in all her magnificence in Greece:
now the day shall ascend.

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Lament for the Fall of Seville - Abu al-Baqa' al-Rundi

Everything declines after reaching perfection, therefore let no man be beguiled by the sweetness of a pleasant life.

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

The sixth love - Beatrice of Nazareth

When the bride of our Lord has made progress 
and has climbed up to greater robustness, 
she experiences yet another way of love, 
more profoundly joined and with higher knowledge.

Thursday, 10 April 2025

On a blind girl - Baha al-Din Zuhayr

They called my love a poor blind maid;
I love her more for that, I said;
I love her, for she cannot see 
These grey hairs which disfigure me 

Wednesday, 9 October 2024

Zehaal-E-Miskeen - Amir Khosrow

Do not overlook my misery,
by blandishing your eyes and weaving tales,
My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart!

Tuesday, 13 August 2024

The choice of friends - Saadi Shirazi

One balmy day in gentle June,
While sporting in my bath so free, 
In came a friend with perfumed clay,
And gave the fragrant mass to me.

Tuesday, 9 July 2024

Song of the Berserks - Anonymous

Brown are our ships. 
But the Vauns admire 
The haunts of the brave; 
Horses of the sea. 
They carry the warrior 
To the winning of plunder.

Friday, 21 June 2024

from The Physicians of Myddfai - Anonymous

Brindled cow, white speckled,
Spotted cow, bold freckled,
The four field sward mottled,

Sunday, 14 April 2024

And YHVH spoke to me when I saw His name - Rabbi Abraham Abulafia

And YHVH spoke to me when I saw His name
spelled out and merged with the blood in my heart,
separating blood from ink and ink from blood:

Sunday, 4 February 2024

The answer - Jalal al-Din Rumi

"Allah, Allah!" cried the sick man, racked with pain the long night through; 
Till with prayer his heart grew tender, till his lips like honey grew.

Sunday, 28 January 2024

Praise compared to vapour drawn upwards, and then descending in rain - Jalal al-Din Rumi

Though water be enclosed in a reservoir,
Yet air will absorb it, for 'tis its supporter;
It sets it free and bears it to its source,
Little by little, so that you see not the process.

Tuesday, 26 December 2023

From dust the Holy God created thee (Door IV.I: Humility) - Saadi Shirazi

From dust the Holy God created thee, 
Servant of God, then, dustlike lowly be, 
From envy, pride, and worldliness abstain, 
Earth is thy origin — be not like flame;

Sunday, 26 November 2023

Now, a new creature - Jacopone da Todi

Now, a new creature, I in Christ am born,
     The old man stripped away; — I am new-made;

Friday, 6 October 2023

The Words of the Wise are Few - Sakya Pandita

Of all the lands where mighty forests grow, 
But few that bear the sandalwood I know; 

Friday, 8 September 2023

Like The Sun's Uprising Light - Burkhart of Hohenfels

Like the sun's uprising light
Shines that maid, before whom fade
Other charms, however bright;
As the stars at break of day,
Late so brilliant fade away.

Sunday, 9 July 2023

Why do you roam the jungles - Baba Sheikh Farid

Says Farid,
Why do you roam the jungles with thorns pricking your feet?

Monday, 27 March 2023

My King - Nachmanides

Ere time began, ere age to age had thrilled, 
I waited in his storehouse, as he willed; 
He gave me being, but, my years fulfilled, 
I shall be summoned back before the King.