While still a teenager, Fakhru’d-Din Ibrahim of Hamadan joined a group of qalandars and became the disciple of a spiritual guide in 13th century Multan, Hindostan. In his first forty-days’ retreat, he annoyed the other novices by bursting into song instead of meditating in silence. Although his song was about SPIRITUAL wine, it became a hit with local wine drinkers. They sang it, accompanied by musical instruments, in the wine-houses! Fakhru’d-Din used the poetic name ‘Iraqi. And wrote unforgettably of union with the Eternal :
“From head to feet thou art gracious, pleasant and sweet, O Love!
Thee to prefer to life ‘twere right and meet, O Love!
To thee doth aspire the heart’s desire of all, O Love!
A hunter of hearts art thou to hold us in thrall, O Love!
To mine eyes appear thy features fair and dear, O Love!
Awake or asleep like a crystal stream so clear, O Love!
Though Beauty’s wine doth incarnadine thy cheek, O Love!
Bear with thy comrades, nor causeless quarrels seek, O Love!
They melt in air, hope’s promises false and fair, O Love!
Excuses, I ween, you’ll find enough and to spare, O Love!
Kisses sip from thine own fair lip, and behold, O Love!
The Water of Life with its savour so sweet and so cold, O Love!
In the dust hard by thy path I die at thy door, O Love!
That a draught of wine on this dust of mine thou mayst pour, O Love!
Jewels of speech on all and each thou dost hurl, O Love!
So that every soul in its ear may wear a pearl, O Love!
None do I see in grace like thee, and I’m sure, O Love!
Thou art soul incarnate and spirit essential and pure, O Love!
In mine eyes and heart thou hast thy part and share, O Love!
Thou dost hide or appear, now dark and dim, now clear, O Love!
Never a moment on earth from North to South, O Love!
May ‘Iraqi aspire to have his desire of thy mouth, O Love!”
“Save love of thee a soul in me I cannot see, I cannot see;
An object for my love save thee I cannot see, I cannot see.
Repose or patience in my mind I cannot find, I cannot find,
While gracious glance or friendship free I cannot see, I cannot see.
Show in thy face some sign of grace, since for the pain wherewith I’m slain
Except thy face a remedy I cannot see, I cannot see.
If thou wouldst see me, speed thy feet, for parted from thy presence sweet,
Continued life on earth for me I cannot see, I cannot see.
O friend, stretch out a hand to save, for I am fallen in a wave
Of which the crest, if crest there be, I cannot see, I cannot see.
With gracious care and kindly air come hither and my state repair;
A better state, apart from thee, I cannot see, I cannot see.
Some pathway to ‘Iraqi teach whereby thy gateway he may reach,
For vagrant so bemused as he I cannot see, I cannot see.”
Reference
1. Edward Granville Browne, “A history of Persian literature under Tartar dominion (1265-1502AD)”, 1920.
