! In The Spirit Of Rumi - 35 - Three Answers Poem by Michael Shepherd

I asked the passing strangers
in the fine street of the wise,
‘Tell me about your Self itself’

The first man said to me
‘It is like a rose garden
planted around a fountain –
it is always beautiful,
changing, yet unchanging;
it is the very centre
of my peace and rest…’

The second man said to me
‘It is like a treasure house of riches –
full of more sparkling, deep-coloured jewels
than anyone’s imagination
could ever begin to describe;
as beautiful as anything
in heaven or on earth…’

The third man said to me
‘It is like a mine of gold and silver
where you only have to dig
and there is always more to find…’

To the first man I said
‘You are indeed blest,
O noble sir… and must have earned yourself
this great honour…tell me,
do you invite every passing stranger
to walk and sit in that garden with you? ’

He said
‘Yes; I am a poet.’

To the second man I said
‘You are indeed blest,
O noble sir… and must have earned yourself
this great honour… tell me,
do you invite every passing stranger
into your treasure house, saying,
take all you need -
to make rich their life, too? ’

He said
‘Yes; I am a poet.’

To the third man I said
‘You are indeed blest,
O noble sir… and must have earned yourself
this great honour… tell me,
do you invite every passing stranger
to come and dig whenever he so needs? ’

He said
‘Yes; I am a poet.’