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I’ve recently been introduced to Nur al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ahmad al-Jami, more often known as “Jami”, who was one of the greatest Persian and Sufi poets in the 15th century.  I haven’t read much of his writings just yet, but having read the following, I think his poetry is something I might quite enjoy!

“Hidden behind the veil of mystery, Beauty is eternally free from the slightest stain of imperfection.  From the atoms of the world, He created a multitude of mirrors; into each one of them He cast the image of His Face; to the awakened eye, anything that appears beautiful is only a reflection of that Face.

Now that you have seen the reflection, hurry to its Source; in that primordial Light the reflection vanishes completely.  Do not linger far from that primal Source; when the reflection fades, you will be lost in darkness.  The reflection is as transient as the smile of a rose; if you want permanence, turn towards the Source; if you want fidelity, look to the Mine of faithfulness.  Why tear your soul apart over something here one moment and gone the next? “

~ Jami, translation by Andrew Harvey and Eryk Hanut – ‘Perfume of the Desert’