THE KASÎDAH IX, 13, 24

One way, two paths, one end the grave.
 This runs athwart the flow’ery plain,
That breasts the bush, the steep, the crag,
 in sun and wind and snow and rain:

Who treads the first must look adown,
 must deem his life an all in all;
Must see no heights where man may rise,
 must sight no depths where man may fall.

Allah in Adam form must view;
 adore the Maker in the made.
Content to bask in Mâyâ’s smile,
 in joys of pain, in lights of shade.

THE KASÎDAH IV, 109, 120

“Then the lank Arab foul with sweat,
 the drainer of the camel’s dug,
“Gorged with his leek-green lizard’s meat,
 clad in his filthy rag and rug,

“Bore his fierce Allah o’er his sands
 and broke, like lava-burst upon
“The realms where reigned pre-Adamite Kings,
 where rose the Grand Kayânian throne.

“Who now of ancient Kayomurs,
 of Zâl or Rustam cares to sing,
“Whelmed by the tempest of the tribes
 that called the Camel-driver King?

THE KASÎDAH III, 153, 168

Dost not, O Maker, blush to hear,
 amid the storm of tears and blood,
Man say Thy mercy made what is,
 and saw the made and said ’twas good?

The marvel is that man can smile
 dreaming his ghostly ghastly dream;-
Better the heedless atomy
 that buzzes in the morning beam!

O the dread pathos of our lives!
 how durst thou, Allah, thus to play
With Love, Affection, Friendship, all
 that shows the god in mortal clay?

But ah! what ’vaileth man to mourn;
 shall tears bring forth what smiles ne’er brought;
Shall brooding breed a thought of joy?
 Ah hush the sigh, forget the thought!