Listen to the Reed the opening of Masnavi by Rumi
Translated by Victoria Holbrook 2010
1. Listen to this reed flute as it tells its tales
Complaining of separations as it wails:
2. "Since they cut my stalk away from the reed bed
My outcry has made men and women lament
3. I seek a breast that is torn to shreds by loss
So that I may explicate the pain of want
4. Everyone who's far from his own origin
Seeks to be united with it once again
5. I have cried out in the company of all
I sought out the good and sought the bad in all
6. Everyone supposed that he was my close friend
No one tried to find my secrets hid within
7. My inner life is not far off from my cry
But the light to see is not in ear or eye
8. Spirit's not hid from flesh nor flesh from spirit
But none is granted leave to see the spirit."
9. It's not wind, it's fire, this reed-stalk's wailing song
Anyone who doesn't have it, won't live on
10. What has struck the reed-stalk is the fire of love
What has struck the wine is deep passion of love
11. Anyone who's lost a friend, the reed's with him
Its wails tear apart the veils that keep us in
12. Who has seen a poison or cure like the reed?
Who has seen a lover or mate like the reed?
13. It's the reed tells of the road that runs with blood
It's the reed tells tales of madman Majnun's love.
14. Only to those without sense is such sense known
Yet the ear has no customer but the tongue
15. In our grief our days have passed by suddenly
Searing pangs have kept our life's days company
16. But though days pass by, say, "Go!"--there's naught to fear
You but stay, You who unlike all else are pure
17. His water sates all but the fish of the sea
Without daily bread the day goes by slowly
18. The states of the cooked can't be grasped by the raw
So the less talk the better, farewell for now!
19. Be free, O my son, loosen and shed your chains
How long will silver and gold keep you in chains?
20. If you try to pour an ocean in a jar
How much will it hold? A day's worth and no more
21. The jar of greedy men's eyes is never full
Till the oyster is content it has no pearl
22. Anyone whose robe has burst apart with love
Is purified of avarice and all fault
23. O sweet love, be joyful, passion fine of ours
O physician of all maladies of ours
24. Remedy for our false pride and our good name
O You who are our Plato and our Galen
25. Earthy body soared to the skies out of love
The mount rose nimble and dancing out of love
26. Love was, O lover, the spirit of Sinai
Moses swooned when he beheld a drunk Sinai
27. Were I lip to lip with one who breathes with me
I would tell all that should be told, like the reed
28. Anyone parted from those who speak his tongue
Though he may know a hundred songs, has no tongue
29. When the garden fades and the rose is no more
You will hear the nightingale's story no more
30. All is the beloved, the lover a screen
The beloved lives, the lover's a dead thing
31. When there is no appetite for love in him
Hee is left there like a bird without a wing
32. How should I sense what's before me or behind
When my friend's light is not there fore or behind
33. Love desires that this I say should be brought out
What's a mirror if it won't bring secrets out?
34. Do you know why your mirror's not indiscreet?
There's so much rust that you cannot see its cheek


Music
The Sitar is by Ustadh Majid Spand (Afghanistan)
The Flute is by Rachid Zerwal (Morocco)
The Musical Composition is by Naynawaz (Afghanistan)
Backgroud loops
clip 4101318 from http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk0ICGtmgO3FvvjxD4tasdg background
clip 32 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEobb5FxuCM
clip 3111820 from http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_cwHiQYE0ZAzXP5vPXzJA android
clip 9 from https://archive.org/details/SlowMotionFlame
clip 31 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDv4oMtGBTk calmemotion
clip 15 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJM7ac7UmtI loops