THE KASÎDAH VIII, 17, 32

While Reason sternly bids us die,
 Love longs for life beyond the grave:
Our hearts, affections, hopes and fears
 for Life-to-be shall ever crave.

Hence came the despot’s darling dream,
 a Church to rule and sway the State;
Hence sprang the train of countless griefs
 in priestly sway and rule innate.

For future Life who dares reply?
 No witness at the bar have we;
Save what the brother Potsherd tells,—
 old tales and novel jugglery.

Who e’er return’d to teach the Truth,
 the things of Heaven and Hell to limn?
And all we hear is only fit
 for grandam-talk and nursery-hymn.

THE KASÎDAH VII,77, 92

“Reason and Instinct!” How we love
 to play with words that please our pride;
Our noble race’s mean descent
 by false forged titles seek to hide!

For “gift divine” I bid you read
 the better work of higher brain,
From Instinct diff’ering in degree
 as golden mine from leaden vein.

Reason is Life’s sole arbiter,
 the magic Laby’rinth’s single clue:
Worlds lie above, beyond its ken;
 what crosses it can ne’er be true.

“Fools rush where Angels fear to tread!”
 Angels and Fools have equal claim
To do what Nature bids them do,
 sans hope of praise, sans fear of blame!

THE KASÎDAH II, 29, 40

Another boasts he would divorce
 old barren Reason from his bed,
And wed the Vine-maid in her stead;—
 fools who believe a word he said!

And “‘Dust thou art to dust returning.’
 ne’er was spoke of human soul”
The Soofi cries, ’tis well for him
 that hath such gift to ask its goal.

“And this is all, for this we’re born
 to weep a little and to die!”
So sings the shallow bard whose life
 still labours at the letter “I.”