Thou and I

Painting by Odano Naotake

Happy the moment when we are seated in the Palace,
Thou and I,
With two forms and with two figures but with one soul,
Thou and I.
The colours of the grove and the voice of the birds
Will bestow immortality
At the time when we come into the garden,
Thou and I.
The stars of heaven will come to gaze upon us;
We shall show them the Moon itself,
Thou and I.
Thou and I, individuals no more, shall be mingled in ecstasy,
Joyful and secure from foolish babble,
Thou and I.
All the bright-plumed birds of heaven will devour
Their hearts with envy
In the place where we shall laugh in such a fashion,
Thou and I.
This is the greatest wonder, that Thou and I,
Sitting here in the same nook,
Are at this moment both in ‘Iraq and Khorasan,
Thou and I.

--- By Jelaluddin Rumi,

translated by Reynold A Nicholson