Sol 5.6

  1. In God’s name I turn the face of my witnessing

    toward the majestic might of God, Lord of my being—

  2. the praises of my sincerity to Him and my steadfast devotion,

    necklaces of praise upon peerless strands,

  3. strewn abroad by every tongue and throat;

    and love for Him in my heart’s core and rind,

  4. and fear matched by hope in His goodness,

    and gratitude—yet who am I to render Him due thanks?—

  5. and praise whose proclamation overwhelms all beings

    when from it the noblest robes are unfurled;

  6. and yearning whose scorching heat melts the soul,

    and the stance of a desperate captive, bound by his poverty before Him;

  7. and secret sincerity, whose light fills its innermost heart;

    and remembrance of Him, by which souls come alive

  8. and which, before the Resurrection, revives whoever is perishing.

    I have turned my desire toward Him, willingly yielding to His direction.

  9. The truth of my remembrance is that I am its very vessel.

    Through it He bestowed on me a fragrance by whose scent I was known;

  10. the horizons were perfumed by the sweetness of its aroma.

    Not even the musk of Dārīn blended with aloeswood can match it.

  11. The nobility of its station heralds nearness to God,

    and the intoxication of its wine engulfs the inner mysteries.

  12. The downpour of its cloud pours forth the life-giving rain of lights,

    and the radiance of its smile outshines the sunlight

  13. whenever it reveals itself upon black pages.

    I was stripped of self, until no “I” remained to me,

  14. and my spirit flew in longing on the wings of annihilation

    to Him who is worthy of glory, might, and perfect richness;

  15. to Him who is worthy of praise, acclaim, and adoration;

    to the Possessor of bounty and benefactions, the best Bestower;

  16. to Him whom the wondrous creations proclaim One as they prostrate;

    to Him whom all existing beings know as they praise;

  17. to Him whom all possible beings glorify, turning to Him alone;

    to Him whom all creatures extol, bearing witness

  18. to His oneness—and God is the best of witnesses;

    to Him who subjected all things in earth and heaven;

  19. to Him who has ever been most solicitous and merciful toward creation;

    to Him who spread blessings as a gracious favor and perfected them;

  20. He renewed and bestowed—favors from His hands.

    O favors of the Lord, you came at first—so return!

Sol 5.6