The Lament of The Dervish

In despair, the Dervish looked to the heavens,

And cried out.

My Beloved, why have you forsaken me?

Have I not been faithful?

Have I not been true?

Have I not helped your servants?

And yet, I wander from place to place.

A dervish with his begging bowl,

I concede, I am angry,

I am impatient,

I have faults,

And my vision is limited,

And I cannot see what you see for me.

The Beloved smiled.

Your fear I understand,

You look for the next moment,

When there is only now.

Rest now, Dervish,

Your reward you must accept.

I cried…

My Beloved, I am in fear.

Long have I dwelled in your tavern,

And now you want me to leave.

To finally experience the happiness;

The happiness I have helped others see.

Am I to be rewarded on this earthly plain?

When I believed my reward was in the eternal hereafter.

Have I sinned?

Have I transgressed against you?

Why would you deny me your face?

The Beloved smiled.

In this life and the next,

Here and now,

You will be my friend and I, yours.

A great silence overcame the Dervish.

Nothing remained,

All that remained was the Beloved’s smile.

Zahir Khan