PagineThe Silence of Love
by Rumi
Translated by E. H. Whinfield (1887) · From Masnavi
Love is the astrolabe of God's mysteries.
A lover may hanker after this love or that love,
But at the last he is drawn to the KING of Love.
However much we describe and explain Love,
When we fall in love we are ashamed of our words.
Explanation by the tongue makes most things clear,
But Love unexplained is better.
This poem and this translation are in the public domain. Source text: Project Gutenberg.