We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; 
we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from thee.
We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat: 
our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely!
Who are we, O Thou soul of our souls, 
that we should remain in being beside thee?
We and our existences are really non-existence; 
thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable.
We all are lions, but lions on a banner: 
because of the wind they are rushing onward from moment to moment.
Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen: 
may that which is unseen not fail from us!
Our wind whereby we are moved and our being are of thy gift; 
our whole existence is from thy bringing into being.
By Rumi
Translated by: A..J. Arberry
'Persian Poems', an Anthology of verse translations 
edited by A.J.Arberry, Everyman's Library, 1972
