1. If the mountains sped like mirages,
And their spheres opened their gates,

2. He whose praises never cease
Would appear to us, rending veils and burning veils.

3. I knew Him through negation, not through
Affirmation, for I was not free of doubt.

4. So He made me taste the perplexity that rose
Against His witnesses among the throng.

5.
I remained in the fire of nature with Him

6. For this reason, for ages.
When I particularized the throng and did not say

7. The manifestations of the minds pervade existence,

8. I craved to taste the witnessing,
And I drank the water of presses as a draught.

9. I witnessed Him in other than the form of our belief,
So I saw a wondrous thing in the witnessing.

10. I wish I had never left the absentation,
In His absence, or were still dust.

11. So He called for the scroll of existence and His inmost self
To the Godwary, and asked him for an accounting.

12. When He called him, he answered, obedient,
Hearing and obeying, and then spoke aright:

13. “He revealed to him to make the house of misery
A refuge for prodigals, criminals.

14. Glorified is the True God greatly
As Holy, Tremendous, and Noble.”