The Parliament of Birds

Dear hoopoe, welcome! You will be our guide;
It was on you King Solomon relied
To carry secret messages between
His court and distant Sheba's lovely queen.
He knew your language and you knew his heart --
As his close confidant you learnt the art
Of holding demons captive underground,
And for these valiant exploits you were crowned.

And you are welcome, finch! Rise up and play
Those liquid notes that steal men's hearts away;
Like Moses you have seen the flames burn high
On Sinai's slopes and there you long to fly,
Like him avoid cruel Pharaoh's hand, and seek
Your promised home on Sinai's mountain peak.
There you will understand unspoken words
Too subtle for the ears of mortal birds.

And welcome, parrot, perched in paradise!
Your splendid plumage bears a strange device,
A necklace of bright fire about the throat;
Though heaven's bliss is promised by your coat,
This circle stands for hell; if you can flee
Like Abraham from Nimrod's enmity,
Despise these flames -- uninjured will you tread
Through fire if first you cut off Nimrod's head,
And when the fear of him has died put on
Your gorgeous coat; your collar's strength has gone!

Welcome, dear partridge -- how you strut with pride
Along the slopes of wisdom's mountain-side;
Let laughter ring out where your feet have trod,
Then strike with all your strength the door of God;
Destroy the mountain of the Self, and here,
From ruined rocks a camel will appear;
Beside its new-born noble hooves, a stream
Of honey mingled with white milk will gleam --
Drive on this beast and at your journey's end
Saleh will greet you as a long-lost friend.

Rare falcon, welcome! How long will you be
So fiercely jealous of your liberty?
Your lure is love, and when the jess is tied,
Submit, and be for ever satisfied.
Give up the intellect for love and see
In one brief moment all eternity;
Break nature's frame, be resolute and brave,
Then rest at peace in Unity's black cave.
Rejoice in that close, undisturbed dark air --
The Prophet will be your companion there.*

And welcome, francolin! Since once you heard
And answered God's first all-commanding word,
Since love has spoken in your soul, reject
The Self, that whirlpool where our lives are wrecked;
As Jesus rode his donkey, ride on it;
Your stubborn Self must bear you and submit --
Then burn this Self and purify your soul;
Let Jesus' spotless spirit be your goal.
Destroy this burden, and before your eyes
The Holy Ghost in glory will arise.

Welcome, dear nightingale -- from your sweet throat
Pour out the pain of lovers note by note.
Like David in love's garden gently sigh;
There sing the songs that make men long to die,
O, sing as David did, and with your song
Guide home man's suffering and deluded throng.
The Self is like a mail coat -- melt this steel
To pliant wax with David's holy zeal,
And when its metal melts, like David you
Will melt with love and bid the Self adieu.

And welcome, peacock -- once of paradise,
Who let the venomous, smooth snake entice
Your instincts to its master's evil way,
And suffered exile for that fateful day;
He blackened your untutored heart and made
A tangled darkness of the orchard's shade --
Until you crush this snake, how can you be
A pilgrim worthy of our mystery?
Destroy its ugly charm and Adam then
Will welcome you to paradise again.

Cock pheasant, welcome! With your piercing sight,
Look up and see the heart's source drowned in light;
You are imprisoned in your filthy well,
A dark and noisome, unremitting hell --
Rise from this well as Joseph did and gain
The throne of Egypt's fabulous domain,
Where you and Joseph will together reign.

Dear pigeon, welcome -- with what joy you yearn
To fly away, how sadly you return!
Your heart is wrung with grief, you share the gaol
That Jonah knew, the belly of a whale --
The Self has swallowed you for its delight;
How long will you endure its mindless spite?
Cut off its head, seek out the moon, and fly
Beyond the utmost limits of the sky;
Escape this monster and become the friend
Of Jonah in that ocean without end.

Welcome, sweet turtle-dove, and softly coo
Until the heavens scatter jewels on you --
But what ingratitude you show!
Around Your neck a ring of loyalty is bound,
But while you live you blithely acquiesce
From head to claw in smug ungratefulness;
Abandon such self-love and you will see
The Way that leads us to Reality.
There knowledge is your guide, and Khezr will bring
Clear water drawn from life's eternal spring.

And welcome, hawk! Your flight is high and proud,
But you return with head politely bowed --
In blood and in affliction you must drown,
And I suggest you keep your head bent down!
What are you here? Mere carrion, rotten flesh,
Withheld from Truth by this world's clumsy mesh;
Outsoar both this world and the next, and there,
Released from both, take off the hood you wear --
When you have turned from both worlds you will land
On Zulgharnin's outstretched and welcome hand.

And little goldfinch, welcome! May your fire
Be an external sign of fierce desire.
Whatever happens, burn in those bright flames,
And shut your eyes and soul to earthly claims.
Then, as you burn, whatever pain you feel,
Remember God will recompense your zeal;
When you perceive His hidden secrets, give
Your life to God's affairs and truly live --
At last, made perfect in Reality,
You will be gone, and only God will be.