"listen to the story told by the reed of being separated...

since i was cut from the reedbed,
i have made this crying sound.
anyone apart from someone he loves
understands what i say.
anyone pulled from a source
longs to go back.
at any gathering i am there,
mingling in the laughing and grieving,
a friend to each, but few
will hear the secrets hidden
within the notes. no ears for that.
body flowing out of spirit,
spirit up from body: no concealing
that mixing. but it's not given us
to see the soul. the reed flute
is fire, not wind. be that empty."

by: rumi
from: the essential rumi
translated by: coleman barks