! In The Spirit Of Rumi - 26 Poem by Michael Shepherd

To My Beloved I said
‘When I am away from you, O Beloved,
out in the market place of this world,
I remember that I have forgotten
one thing – but cannot remember
what it can be…’

My Beloved said
Is it yourself?
‘It is of myself, yet
it is not myself..’
‘Is it Myself? ’
‘It is of Yourself, yet
it is not Yourself..’

‘Then it must be that one thing
which is most precious to you:
that for which your life was bought in the market place
at the price of a great jewel,
which is your paradise;
that which you love beyond all else,
but have not yet found;
that for which your whole life
should be exchanged;
find that one thing without delay,
and you will have no more questions,
only the joy of working at the work
for which you were born..’