Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Nothing of Roselight

Death comes, 
and what we thought we needed
loses importance.

The living shiver, 
focused 
on a muscular dark hand,
rather than 
the glowing cup it holds
or the toast being proposed.

In that same way
love enters your life, 
and the I, the ego,
a corrupt, self-absorbed king,
dies during the night.
Let him go.
Breathe cold new air,
the nothing of roselight.

Rumi, from Coleman Barks' A Year with Rumi

2 comments:

Maureen said...

Wonderful poem. The image "the living shiver" is especially memorable.

Jan said...

All together, lovely and meaningful.