What is this Distance?

Peace, one and all…

Beloved, what is this distance between us,
except the sweet anticipation of forever?
Beloved, what are these ever-flowing moments,
except newly opening windows,
by which we might gaze out at each other?

What Do My Wishes Even Mean?

Peace, one and all…

Beloved, I am not as I might wish,
but when faced with Your overflowing mercy,
what do my wishes even mean?

Beloved, let me be as You might wish;
this is my deepest prayer,
and my highest hope.

Love’s Full Need

Peace, one and all…

When first we opened our eyes,
and the curtain rose
over this strange performance of life,
we rushed out into the world
in child-like wonder
at all that You had caused to be.

As we wandered far from home
we lost our way,
confused by the ever-flowing
tide of our senses,
by every case of mistaken identity,
foisted upon us by our own immaturity.

And as saw our errors slowly unfold,
we each fell into sorrow.
But Your love remained with us always,
like a promise of dawn
in some hour of darkness,
a whispered herald of new life.

How strange it is, Beloved,
the cure lies hidden within the poison.
Only eyes washed clean by tears,
can truly see the light;
only a heart broken open by sorrow
can call out in Love’s full need.

Gathering Twilight

Peace, one and all…

Gazing out over the bay
as evening draws ever closer,
distant shores discernable
amidst the gathering twilight.

Evenings are a time for reflection,
as the day ends our thoughts turn
to all that has passed,
to all that has made us in this moment.

As the dark approaches,
I begin to see with new eyes:
Beloved, You are the deepest joy of my life
and all that I take with me into the night.

Take Care, O My Heart

Peace, one and all…

Take care, o my heart.
Remember that the things we do here
reverberate through the wide halls of Eternity;
does anyone truly desire a gloomy homecoming?

Remember, o my soul.
Beautiful goodness is the only currency you have.
The Beloved’s Eye sees through every deception,
and Love accepts no counterfeit!

See with the eyes of spirit, o my poor one.
It is His love that brought us forth,
and will return us home once more;
does anyone truly desire a gloomy homecoming?

We Came This Way Before Dawn

Peace, one and all…

Beloved, we came this way
in the swiftly passing hours before dawn,
reckless in our joy at life.
Looking back, we began to remember
the warmth of Your face,
and as the new sun arose
the whole world glistened anew:
there You were before us
and within our hearts.
At last, we began to see
that our vision is Your presence within us,
our soul, the sign of Your embrace.

Unworthy Ruins

Peace, one and all…

When You bring me low,
humbling me in the dust
of this good earth,
it is only that You might
raise me anew once more.

When You destroy
the works of these hands,
bringing to naught my every effort,
it is only that You might restore
them again in Your loving embrace.

Beloved, You alone have the right
to demolish this house of me.
Only You
could build a palace
from my unworthy ruins.

Naught to Fear

Peace, one and all…

Whatever has passed,
whether of sorrow or joy,
of tears or laughter,
came forth from the light of Your eye,
so what is there to fear?

Whatever has reached us from You
is a mercy within a mercy ,
even though it may wear a wry face
and a robe of darkest ebony;
what is there to fear?

Beloved, the whole world
came dancing into existence
at a single glance from You,
a single breath from Your lips;
in that love what is there to fear?

Behind Every No

Peace, one and all…

Sometimes, life closes in around us,
and all that we strive for
seems to come to naught.
Remember, dear heart,
that when our plans fail,
when life says only ‘No!’
this is merely the first word
in a new chapter
of love’s unfolding.
Behind every ‘no’ stands
‘god but God’.
After every la ilaha
comes illa Allah

Feel No Fear

Peace, one and all…

Feel no fear,
for you are weakness
held by His strength,
and poverty
encompassed by His wealth.

Feel no fear,
all that moves
does so by His command,
and all that comes to pass
does so by His word.

Beloved,
what is there to fear
when there are no borders
left to defend
and no more boundaries to hold us back?

Why Bother Fighting Over Dust?

Peace, one and all…

Since He is the light hidden within every eye,
let us be friends.
Since He is the joy hidden within every heart,
let us be lovers.
Since He is the aim hidden within every soul,
let us travel together in peace.
Beloved, since You are the Inheritor of All,
why bother fighting over dust?

This Prison of Answers

Peace, one and all…

Beloved, I don’t have any answers.

All I have are my questions,

all those unknown mysteries

of life and and love and longing.

What a joy it is to be released

from this prison of answers!

What a blessing it is to be freed

from the tyranny of ‘knowledge’.

May our living humanity be sanctified

 that thereby our love might increase.

As long as my questions

lead me always to Your door,

then all is well, Beloved,

all is well.

Become A Full Cup

Peace, one and all…

Beloved, resentment is a poison.
Why waste my life drinking poison?
Why not bless everything
that comes from Your hand,
and let that poison
become a full cup
from Your Ocean of Love?

Beyond All That We Have Done

Peace, one and all…

 

Beyond all that we have done,
beyond all that we think we are,
lies Your loving-kindness,
Your overflowing mercy.

Before A Bright Morning Sun

Peace, one and all…

 

Beloved, when I live from myself
doubt and uncertainty obscure my path,
but when I open myself in You
every shadow dissolves
like mist before a bright morning sun.

Bewildered and Amazed

Peace, one and all…

How strange that
You have hidden strength within weakness,
and weakness within strength.
I am turned round and round,
and wheresoever I am turned,
there is the light of Your face.
Bewildered and amazed,
Your love is intoxicating and yet,
in the very heart of intoxication,
lies the tranquil centre of sobriety,
a garden amidst the flames!

Abdur Rahman, 18th March 2012

You are the Moment

Peace, one and all…

You are the moment, within every moment,
and the Face behind every face.
Wherever we wander, we find You waiting,
and whenever we are still,
we find You at the quiet centre of all.
Beloved, these moments of ours give birth
to something sweet in the soul,
like a dawn-flower slowly opening,
or our first breath of air
on a night of love.

Abdur Rahman, 11th March 2012

Resentment is a Poison

Peace, one and all…

Resentment is a poison,
and You, Beloved, are the only cure.
How strange that You should hide
Your cure within the poison,
and health within sickness.
How wondrous it is that
all that comes forth from You is
a mercy within a mercy within a mercy!
Beloved!  You had me with Your first glance!