Tapestry of Life
From Makhzan-Al-Asrar by Nizami , the 12th century Persian poet
Whatever you see, of dark or fair guise,
plays their own part beneath the vast skies.
The owl, though cursed in the tales of ill fate,
marks the spot in ruins where treasures await.
Each being gracing this curtain's expanse,
holds its own worth in life’s great dance.
Though your gems may outshine their hue,
each creature is a treasure in the cosmos' view.
Count not their flaws, respect their share,
for harming them comes with a price to bear.
The good and the bad, both serve in their own way,
reflecting human truth in the world’s grand array.
Translated by Mohammad Ali Heidari-Shahreza, a university professor and an educational researcher with expertise and passion in literature, particularly wisdom and Sufi mystic poetry.