V
Life and Death
43
The inner man knows no worries on this path.
The inner heart does not know death.
Bodies perish, but not the soul.
Those who are gone don't return.
Bodies are for dying.
That's not what a soul is for.
The heart will never find the pearl it seeks
even in a thousand years, unless it is given.
Be careful
your Beloved's heart is easily broken.
Such fine crystal once shattered
is never restored.
And unless you put your cup to the fountain
even in a thousand years it won't be filled.
Both Khidr* and Elias drank the water of life.
These days they are not dead.
The world was made for the sake
of the Prophet and his friendship.
Those who come to this world do not remain.
Yunus, today
while you have eyes to see
do what you must.
Those who attain do not come back.
* Khidr in Islamic tradition is an immortal who may appear in
human form to give help and guidance to those in need.
44
One day I had taken a walk
and came upon a tree of great height.
I said to this slim beauty
"Tell me a few of your secrets.
What's the meaning of stretching so tall
in such a temporary world?
Come back among the humble again.
You embellish your beauty endlessly
but why not take some pains for Truth instead?
Find your heart's real need."
The tree will age, its time will pass.
A bird will perch on a branch
and one day it will seem
there was no bird at all.
One day your end will come
your great length will fall to earth.
Your branches will be thrown in the fire
and the pots will boil on red hot iron.
Yunus, you are only one
and yet you have a hundred thousand faults.
Having reflected on a stiff tree's fate
think of your own.
45
The Truth fills the world
but to whom is Truth known?
You ask so much of It
but It isn't separate from yourself.
You believe in the world
you claim your daily bread as your own.
How long will you keep up your lie?
You know it's not like that.
It's a long way to the other world.
Be honest with yourself
through all the separation and painful yearning
Those who attain do not return.
Those who come to the world
will one by one drink the juice of death.
This world is just a bridge
although the young wouldn't guess it.
Come, let's get to know each other
and make our work easier.
Let's love, let's be loved.
No one inherits this world.
Yunus, if you can understand
if you can hear the meaning
find a little happiness.
No one's here forever.
46
Oh disciple of love, open your eyes
look to the face of the land.
See these subtle plants
how their flowering passes.
With such care they grow toward the Friend—
ask them what goal they have in mind.
Each flower has a thousand ways
it flirts with Truth.
Every bird with its song
is remembering the Ruler.
They praise His Ability
His Presence in every detail
yes, and as they see the shortness of life
they pale.
Each day their color changes
until they fall to the ground.
This is a teaching for the wise to understand.
Your coming doesn't lead anywhere.
Your laughter isn't funny.
Your only destination is death
if you haven't learned to love.
Yunus, forget about talking
take your hand off your self. What can you do?
Not a single thing, good or bad
is apart from God.
47
If you need to be warned, come
look at these graves.
Even a stone would soften after seeing them.
And those with great riches
see to what end they came
wrapped in simple cloth
a shirt without sleeves.
Where are those who used to say
"These riches are mine"
who weren't satisfied merely with a fine house.
Now they're covered with stone.
They never were at home in God's house.
They neglected the rules, the worship.
They never learned to serve.
Now their time is passed.
Here are those who talked so well
those with sun-tanned faces.
They have died and disappeared.
Once these were the bosses many worked for.
Come and tell me now — which is which?
There's neither a door to enter
nor food to eat.
There's no light to see.
Daylight is now darkness.
Yunus, all you call your own
you'll leave behind.
Your possessions will abandon you.
48
Put the world and its adornments aside
the world which weighs less
than a dream or a breeze.
Do you expect it to be faithful?
It's just waiting to run away.
Don't wish for things as brief as these
things even the Sultan can't hold on to.
We took our worries with us
those imaginary companions
when we could have been with the Friend.
Balance the books yourself
before someone does it for you.
Kill your compulsive self
lay it on the stone slab for washing
so that before death surprises you
you'll be in the right hands.
Whoever asks you what you believe in
kiss their hands and feet
show them the answer.
Yunus, a straight way seems right for you.
Join with Truth now, resurrect with Truth.
49
Whatever separates you from the Truth
throw it away, it will vanish anyhow.
Why do you feed this flesh?
In the grave worms and birds will feast on it
and it will vanish too.
Open your eyes and look at someone who died.
The beard and hair fall off.
Snakes and centipedes come hungry
feed themselves and leave contented.
Those who are greater than us
those with courtesy and right action
say "This is the story," and leave.
"Take your hand away from unfair gains
and hold your gossiping tongue
before Azrael* comes and closes the shop."
The moment of death comes and the head dries
old age reaches its end very soon.
Mountains and rocks are flattened
the sky is rolled up and the earth disappears.**
The soul will face its Day of Reckoning
and so work hard.
The one who worships at dawn
goes to the House of God matured.
"Yunus, the poor one" will die,
his grave will fill with holy light.
"Faith" will be his comrade
when he goes like a lion to the next world.
* Azrael. Angel of Death.
** Quran, Surah XXI, 104.
50
This King, this King
He keeps on doing His work
The world is His orchard.
He keeps on sending pain
to the one He loves.
Don't do wrong
the moment of death is closer to you than yourself.
It has made its home in our own roots and origins
It demolishes us all.
In a single moment you will reach there
so work hard here.
The soul is not here forever
it wanders around for a few days in the flesh.
A Questioner comes, tears back the earth
and asks, "Who is your God?"
And this soul of mine hears him
and my bones keep on aching.
Those who accept God's Unity
those who sacrifice their souls for God
these souls are not dead
they're swimming in the waters of Love.
I have seen —those who attained flew away.
They drank from the full cup of Love.
Their whims are tolerated at the level of Truth
Their heads are bowed.
Yunus, if you are the servant of the wise
don't forget your death.
So many of the attained have come and gone
now our turn has come.
51
My life came and went like the wind
between the opening and closing of an eye.
As Truth is my witness
the soul is the body's guest.
A day is about to come when like a bird
it flies out of the cage.
The poor sons of Adam
have sown their seeds across the earth.
Some grew and some were lost.
My insides burn in this world
my essence is afire.
Some die young
cut down like wheat still green.
If you visit the sick or bring someone water
tomorrow you'll be served the wine of Truth.
If you give your clothes to the poor
tomorrow you'll be wearing astral clothes.
Yunus Emre, they say only two people
stay in this world forever—
Khidr and Elias
who drink the water of life.
52
Oh Holy One, if ever You should ask—
these would be my answers to You:
I have sinned against myself
but what, oh King, have I done to You?
Before I came, You said my soil was bad.
Before I was born, Adam rebelled.
In the eternal past I was written down a rebel.
You filled the universe with my loud voice.
You did whatever You wanted with me.
You brought me to whatever I found.
Have I constructed You? It's You who made me.
Why, oh Enricher, did You fill me
with things to be ashamed of?
I open my eyes and what I see
is the prison inside.
It's filled with animal needs
demons and ambitions.
So that I would not die in this prison
I have eaten unclean foods once or twice.
Has anything that You possess diminished
or has my judgment ever surpassed Yours?
Did I eat Your daily bread
and leave You hungry?
Did I waste Your wealth
and leave You in poverty?
You stretch a bridge thin as a hair and say
"Come and save yourself from My trap!"
Your servants build bridges with good in mind—
the good of crossing safely.
They build them strong so that
people who pass over might say
"This is a good bridge."
You set up scales to weigh people's intentions
and You intend to put me in the fire.
It's grocers who need scales—
and greedy peddlars and druggists.
Because sin is the prize of the filthy
even the useless gain something from Your being.
All I want from You is Your love.
Why uncover my faults and put them on a scale?
Will it please You to watch me burn?
For God's sake, oh Teacher of Creation
it's impossible.
You are All-Seeing. You, Yourself, know my state.
Why then do You need to weigh my actions?
Didn't Your need for revenge end
when You killed me?
You made me rot
and stuffed my eyes with dirt.
Has the hand of Yunus ever hurt You
You who know the Seen and the Unseen?
So many empty words from a handful of dirt!
What do You need
Oh Generous One, oh Power!