Old Persian Poetry Translated To English Poetry

Rumi (1207 – 1273): Moses & The Shepherd

Then, to the blessed heart- 
of Moses, the fellow of God,
arrived these words of the divine! 

Moses!
I send you out, to mend and blend,
never to cast-out, to estrange or divide.

For all men, I place on Earth,
I design a fate, I consign a face.

One man meant for the praise,
the other is set- to take the blames.


for one, all days glows with Grace,
and for the other, the sores of a mace.

Of chastity and sin, I stain beyond,
of stillness or change, I move above.
No deed of divine knows of gain or wage.
but to guide men out of the darkened cage!


Translation: Maryam Dilmaghani, August 2012, Halifax.