Sol 6.1

  1. Ecstasy stirred him, and he swayed,

    invoking God Most High,

  2. foaming like an unbroken camel

    when its hobble is undone.

  3. I said, 'Do you seek, through this

    dancing, communion with God?'

  4. He said, 'This is the best discipline

    for one who aspires to perfection.

  5. Through it the soul leaves behind

    heavy fetters for the body.'

  6. Then his dinar fell from

    him as he swaggered proudly.

  7. And one of the gathering saw it,

    then craftily hid it.

  8. And the sheikh noticed the incident,

    so he grew quite ill.

  9. And he cried for help until

    he wearied his heart with supplication.

  10. I said, 'You there, would

    an ascetic like you weep over money?

  11. Why does remembrance not inspire you

    to divert your mind from sorrow?

  12. So cast off pretensions

    that have given fantasy power over you.

  13. Your soul is only in

    your body; it will not consent to depart.'

Sol 6.1