PagineMortality and Immortality
by Rumi
Translated by R. A. Nicholson (1898) · From Dīvāni Shamsi Tabrīz
What a Bride is in the soul! By the reflection of Her face
May the world be freshened and coloured like the hands of the newly married!
Look not on the fleshy cheek which corrupts and decays,
Look on the spiritual cheek—may it be sweet and agreeable!
The dark body resembles a raven, and the body's world winter;
O in spite of these two unpleasants may there be Eternal Spring!
This poem and this translation are in the public domain. Source text: Project Gutenberg.