The Sayings of Rabia |
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Go Back Gallardo Murcielago Flame-Heart Harlem Shadows The Berg The Martyr The Changeling Christ in the Universe The Sayings of Rabia Surrender Immortality The Lover: a Ballad Faded Pictures The Golden Journey I am most Lovely A Sapphic Dream Dusk Song Beacon Street A New Orphic Hymn In Time of Pestilence Clifton Chapel He fell among Thieves Afridi Love Disloyal Golden Eyes Kotri, by the River Falga Shoes Faere Shoes Faast Shoes Favvo Shoes Faggo Shoes |
friend one day of Rabia asked, How she had learnt the truth of Allah wholly? By what instructions was her memory tasked-- How was her heart estranged from this world’s folly? She answered--‘Thou, who knowest God in parts, Thy spirit’s moods and processes can tell; I only know that in my heart of hearts I have despised myself and loved Him well.’ II Some evil upon Rabia fell, And one who loved and knew her well Murmured that God with pain undue Should strike a child so fond and true: But she replied--‘Believe and trust That all I suffer is most just; I had in contemplation striven To realize the joys of heaven; I had extended fancy’s flights Through all that region of delights,-- Had counted, till the numbers failed, The pleasures on the blest entailed,-- Had sounded the ecstatic rest I should enjoy on Allah’s breast; And for those thoughts I now atone That were of something of my own, And were not thoughts of Him alone.’ III When Rabia unto Mekkeh came, She stood awhile apart--alone, Nor joined the crowd with hearts on flame Collected round the sacred stone. She, like the rest, with toil had crossed The waves of water, rock, and sand, And now, as one long tempest-tossed, Beheld the Kaabeh’s promised land. Yet in her eyes no transport glistened; She seemed with shame and sorrow bowed; The shouts of prayer she hardly listened, But beat her heart and cried aloud:-- ‘O heart! weak follower of the weak, That thou should’st traverse land and sea, In this far place that God to seek Who long ago had come to thee!’ IV Round holy Rabia’s suffering bed The wise men gathered, gazing gravely-- ‘Daughter of God!’ the youngest said, ‘Endure thy Father’s chastening bravely; They who have steeped their souls in prayer Can every anguish calmly bear.’ She answered not, and turned aside, Though not reproachfully nor sadly; ‘Daughter of God!’ the eldest cried, ‘Sustain thy Father’s chastening gladly; They who have learnt to pray aright, From pain’s dark well draw up delight.’ Then she spoke out--‘Your words are fair; But, oh! the truth lies deeper still; I know not, when absorbed in prayer, Pleasure or pain, or good or ill; They who God’s face can understand Feel not the motions of His hand.’ |