quatrain 17

From sunlight, two further versions of quatrain #17 to add to the one by Houshmand discussed at being rude.

I'm crying, my tears tell me that much.
Last Spring, they say, the new green, how weak you felt.

Remember any night of all our nights,
but don't remember things I've said.

-- Version by Coleman Barks
Open Secret
Threshold Books, 1984

ah tear drops
brighten my heart
clear the spring blossoms
shining my sight
flowing one night
remembering only
not any indelicate
moments of my life

--Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame
Cal-Earth Press, 2001

quatrain 598

From sunlight, a version of quatrain #598:

Without love,
all worship is a burden,
all dancing is a chore,
all music is mere noise.

All the rain of heaven may fall into the sea.

Without love,
not one drop could become a pearl.

-- Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
A Garden Beyond Paradise
Bantam Books, 1992