As Soon As You Clear Your Hearing
The voice of a saviour
will shortly be heard
as soon as you
clear your hearing
Don’t drink now
this polluted water
the elixir of life
will soon arrive
If you desire grace
lose your selfish self
till you can taste
the sweet essence
In the blackest
of your moments
wait with no fear
Since the water of life
was found by the Beloved
in the darkest caverns
~ Rumi
Ode (Ghazal) 550
Translated by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Fountain of Fire
Burning Gate Press, Los Angeles, 1994.
Art by Yulia Litvinova
