Sarmad Kashani
Persian Jewish Gay Sufi Atheist Poet
Born in Armenia in 1590
Killed in Delhi, India in 1661
...
So long you are entangled in the net of greed and lust
You are captive of yourself, day and night in a cage.
In the garden of life be free like a cyprus flower,
Whether you are a sunbul or nasrin or a thorn or a blade of grass.
...
Be not proud of your wealth and property !
And do not take pleasure in drinking this wine !
There is not much time between coming and going of wealth:
Be not happy at one state and sorry at the other.
...
Like the signet of the seal, you still run after fame.
Even on death-bed, you desire worldly successes.
Collect your necessary provisions from the store of life !
Harvesting season will come, and you are not ripe yet.
...
Fear the world and the men of the world !
The more you think of them, the less is your comfort.
I have seen its spring as well as its autumn,
There is a lesson for you in every rose that blooms in this world’s garden.
...
I grew old, but my sinning became young.
And the buds of shame opened in autumn.
These tulip-faced ones have made me behave like a child,
I’m pious sometimes and other times drenched in sins.
...
I'm king in myself and under no obligation to any other kings.
And for a few loaves of bread I never seek out mean fellows.
My ‘self’ is a dog and I am a dogherder,
And as a dog I am not obliged to other dogherders.
...
Besides Thee I do not wish to have another friend,
My heart craves for neither garden nor spring.
Thou art the nucleus of all of my thoughts and ideas.
And I think of nothing except Thy love and Thy moon-like face.
...
Keep your heart happy in your love of the Beloved
And you will be in possession of an eternal wealth.
Love is a treasure which gives no pain,
It’s a bargain yielding enormous profit.
...
All poems by Sarmad Kashani
