The Festival of Spring, from the Divan of Jelaleddin

The Festival of Spring, from the Divan of Jelaleddin
By Jalal ad-Din Rumi (trans. W. Hastie)

The Festival of Spring presents William Hastie's English renderings of ghazals from Rumi's Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi, modeled after the German versions of the poet-scholar Friedrich Rückert. Composed as "gazels," these poems capture the ecstatic, love-drunk register of Rumi's shorter lyric poetry, distinct from the narrative parables of the Masnavi.

First published in 1903, this edition also includes Hastie's introduction and critical comparison of Rumi's verse with FitzGerald's famous Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, offering historical context for English readers encountering Persian mystical poetry.

A public-domain work, offered as a free digital edition by Nile Book Store.

Excerpt

I. Light

Until the glorious Sun hath vanquished Night,
The Birds of Day cower trembling with affright.

But lo! a bright glance bids the Tulip ope;
O Heart, awake thou too, in Duty's might.

The Sun's Sword sheds in reddening flush of Dawn
The Blood of Night, and puts the Foe to flight.

The Soul still full of sleep, dreams Night prevails;
But no! Day comes, and triumphs full in sight.

While grey Dawn lingers, dubious yet is Day;
But in Day's glow, who still can doubt the Light.

The Light grows in the East; I in the West
On Mountain top, reflect the Morn's delight.

To Beauty's Sun, I'm but the pale moon here;
Then look from me towards the Sun's face bright.

The Light in East is called Jeláleddín;
And here my verse reflects its glowing White.