The Instruments

Who is the luckiest in this whole orchestra? The reed.
It's mouth touches your lips to learn music.

All reeds, sugarcane especially,
think only of this chance.
They sway in the canebrakes,
free in the many ways they dance.

Without you the instruments would die.
One sits close beside you. Another takes a long kiss.
The tamburine begs,
touch my skin so I can be myself.

Let me feel you enter each limb bone by bone,
that what died last night
can be whole today.

Why live some soberer way, and feel you ebbing out?
I won't do it.

Either give me enough wine
or leave me alone,
now that I know how it is
to be with you
in constant conversation.

(RUMI , translated by Coleman Barks)

About Indian Poetry