I was dead
by Jalaluddin Rumi via wahid Saturday, Feb 16 2013, 10:17am
international / poetry / post

i was dead
i came alive

i was tears
i became laughter

all because of love

when it arrived
my limited temporal life
was transformed
it became eternal

love said to me
you are not
crazy enough
you don't fit this house

i went and
became crazy,
crazy enough
to be in chains

love said
you are not
intoxicated enough
you don't fit the group

i went and
got drunk
drunk enough
to overflow
with light-headedness

love said
you are still
too clever
filled with imagination
and skepticism

i went and
became gullible
and in fright
pulled away
from it all

love said
you are a candle
attracting everyone
gathering every one
around you

i am no more
a candle spreading light
i gather no more crowds
and like smoke
i am all scattered now

love said
you are a teacher
you are a head
and for everyone
you are a leader

i am no more
not a teacher
not a leader
just a servant
to your wishes

love said
you already have
your own wings
i will not give you
more feathers

and then my heart
pulled itself apart
and filled to the brim
with a new light
overflowed with new life

now even the heavens
are thankful that
because of love
i have become
a giver of light