Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE SAYINGS OF RABIA, by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A pious friend one day of rabia asked Last Line: "feel not the motions of his hand." Alternate Author Name(s): Houghton, 1st Baron; Houghton, Lord Subject(s): Islam; Rabi`ah Al-`adawiyah (713-801); Sufism | ||||||||
I. A PIOUS friend one day of Rabia asked, How she had learnt the truth of Allah wholly? By what instructions was her memory tasked -- How was her heart estranged from this world's folly? She answered -- "Thou who knowest God in parts, Thy spirit's moods and processes, can tell; I only know that in my heart of hearts I have despised myself and loved Him well." II. Some evil upon Rabia fell, And one who loved and knew her well Murmured that God with pain undue Should strike a child so fond and true: But she replied -- "Believe and trust That all I suffer is most just; I had in contemplation striven To realise the joys of heaven; I had extended fancy's flights Through all that region of delights, -- Had counted, till the numbers failed, The pleasures on the blest entailed, -- Had sounded the ecstatic rest I should enjoy on Allah's breast; And for those thoughts I now atone That were of something of my own, And were not thoughts of Him alone." III. When Rabia unto Mekkeh came, She stood awhile apart -- alone, Nor joined the croud with hearts on flame Collected round the sacred stone. She, like the rest, with toil had crossed The waves of water, rock, and sand, And now, as one long tempest-tossed, Beheld the Kaabeh's promised land. Yet in her eyes no transport glistened; She seemed with shame and sorrow bowed; The shouts of prayer she hardly listened, But beat her heart and cried aloud: -- "O heart! weak follower of the weak, That thou should'st traverse land and sea, In this far place that God to seek Who long ago had come to thee!" IV. Round holy Rabia's suffering bed The wise men gathered, gazing gravely -- "Daughter of God!" the youngest said, "Endure thy Father's chastening bravely; They who have steeped their souls in prayer Can every anguish calmly bear." She answered not, and turned aside, Though not reproachfully nor sadly; "Daughter of God!" the eldest cried, "Sustain thy Father's chastening gladly, They who have learnt to pray aright, From pain's dark well draw up delight." Then she spoke out, -- "Your words are fair; But, oh! the truth lies deeper still; I know not, when absorbed in prayer, Pleasure or pain, or good or ill; They who God's face can understand Feel not the motions of His hand." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CONFERENCE OF THE BIRDS, SELS. by FARID OD-DIN MOHAMMAD EBN EBRAHIM ATTAR BLACKENED FACE IS BETTER THAN A BLACKENED HEART by BAHU A'WAN FRIEND FOR ONE BREATH AND AN ENEMY FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND by BAHU A'WAN GARDEN HAS BLOOMED, BAHU, SHAMING THE NARCISSUS AND RUE by BAHU A'WAN LOVER'S HEART IS LIKE MELTED WAX, RUSHING TOWARD ITS BEL by BAHU A'WAN TRUE LOVER IS ONE WHO ACCEPTS DEATH FOR THE BELOVED by BAHU A'WAN ARABIAN STALLIONS CANNOT BE HIDDEN BENEATH THREADBARE SADDL by BAHU A'WAN ARISE AND SHINE BRIGHT, MOON! THE STARS ARE ENGAGED IN YOUR by BAHU A'WAN ARISE AND SHINE BRIGHT, MOON! THE STARS RE ENGAGED IN DIVIN by BAHU A'WAN COLUMBUS AND THE MAYFLOWER by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES |
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