Last night, in frenzied madness
and in the mood for arguments,
I had a confrontation
with my turbulent heart.
“What did you choose in the end,
belief or unbelief?” I asked.
“As long as I still had a choice,
I was negligent of God,” it replied.
“Are you a stranger or a friend —
what is your state?” I asked.
“As long as I was a stranger
I had a friend,” it replied.
“Will you not speak of your union
and separation?” I asked.
“I have repented,
those thoughts were crude and simple!” it replied.
“Were you given sustenance
by the Friend?” I asked.
“As long as I hoped for sustenance
I remained destitute,” it replied.
“Was the way to the district
of that Sweetheart very far?” I asked.
“There was a path only
as long as I had feet,” it replied.
“Did you learn the mysteries
of body and soul?” I asked.
“When did I ever pay attention
to this body and soul?” it replied.
“When you were annihilated,
what did your eyes behold?” I asked.
“I saw that my consciousness of self
was baseless,” it replied.
“Did the cloud of His Benevolence pour down
the rain of His Mercy upon you?” I asked.
“When did I ever think of heaven
and earth?” it replied.
“Are you freed
from idol-worship?” I asked.
“As long as I still had any desire,
I was worshiping an idol,” it replied.
“Did your house prosper
through the grace of His presence?” I asked.
“Every building I had
was demolished by His hand!” it replied.
“Tell me this: were you satisfied
with Nurbakhsh at last?” I asked.
“For no reason at all, I was caught up
in arguments with him,” it replied.