The World of Time

Every instant thou art dying and returning. "This world
 is but a moment," said the Prophet.
Our thought is an arrow shot by Him: how should it stay
 in the air? It flies back to God.
Every instant the world is being renewed, and we unaware
 of its perpetual change.
Life is ever pouring in afresh, though in the body it has the
 semblance of continuity.
From its swiftness it appears continuous, like the spark
 thou whirlest with thy hand.
Time and duration are phenomena produced by the 
 rapidity of Divine Action,
As a fireband dexterously whirled presents the appear-
ance of a long line of fire.

In the grand scheme of things this is what finding a dusty, coverless book in a backroom in Pakistan leads to. Badly printed as it was, my uncle - when he heard me reading the poems to his children kindly pointed out that they were from Rumi, and although, clearly it was in english, there was no indication of the author. He also proceeded to recite them in urdu, and put the english to shame. (Things like this happen a lot in Pakistan.) Anyways, no idea who the pakistani translator was, enjoy the poem!

CST Approved