Trans. Juan R. I. Cole Nightingale of Separation
Baha'u'llah
The bird of loyalty sings upon
the tree of eternity
As does the dove of the two seas
upon the twigs of the lote-tree of separation--
Say: the time of union has been
fulfilled, and by virtue of the decree
Tears have flowed from the eyes
of the immortals in the concourse
The breezes of joy that blew from
the paradise of splendor
By God, the faces of the celestial
maidens in their chambers
The houris rouge their cheeks blood
red, for they have heard
And will never adorn their bodies
with the silks of eternity
No sorrow shall ever compare to
this grief in the realm of the unknowable essence,
Then, eyes should weep, ears listen
to the wailing, tongues moan and lament, and bodies
tumble into the dust of their birth-places. Nevertheless,
we praise God for having singled us out for these repeated
misfortunes and unceasing afflictions, and give thanks
to him at all times and in all circumstances. He is,
in truth, witness to his own words. In all the past
scriptures it is mentioned that a time will come, a
season will arrive, that the bird of Persia shall sing
an Arabian melody. Therefore, hasten to him, lovers
of the celestial beauty, you who are distracted by
the divine sanctum. Now, that time has arrived, that
breeze has wafted, and that bird has flown, but you
have not seen it nor attained to it, and have not accomplished
the goal. Indeed, you have not advanced toward what
was written, nor have you listened. Now that moment
has passed, and that day has slipped out of your grasp.
That breeze shall not blow again in this land, that
rose shall not again flower here, and that door shall
never again open. Have you never heard that the nightingale
of the divine garden seeks repose and settles only
in the spiritual rose bower; that the hoopoe of the
Sheba of love only makes its home in the Sinai of the
spirit; or that the hearts of lovers seek no visage
save the beauty of the beloved?
Lovers, you have become immersed
in thoughts of your own selves, and never set out for
the lands of the beloved. What a marvelous heedlessness
has overtaken contingent being and encompassed existence!
The sun is radiant, brilliant and shining in the midst
of the sky, but all are singing along with and have
become intimates of the birds of night. I shall close
with what the nightingale of separation sang in the
land of Iraq, calling out to all who dwell beneath
the horizon: The bird of immortality has flown to
the city of the unknowable divine Cloud, and the dove
of the spirit has taken flight from its branch and
sought another perch. Then weep, lovers and people
of the concourse on high.
Thus do we cast upon you the verses
of parting, so that perhaps you will rise from the
couches of heedlessness and join the ranks of the mindful.
Say: Hypocrites, this nightingale of constancy has
taken wing from the rose of union, has set out for
the garden of separation, and has consumed all the
lovers in the precincts of Iraq. Friends, do not forget
the union of souls while you are in the affliction
of separation. Lament this departure, but sow the
seed of patience in the good earth of the heart, watering
it with your tears, so that it will give forth sweet
fruit. This is the counsel of the nightingale of the
divine garden. Therefore, heed it.
Department of History
University of Michigan
The nightingale of separation,
perched upon the branch
of the horizon, calls out in grief,
you who are filled with yearning;
with the strains of this parting,
you who are filled with yearning;
that the departure is imminent,
you who are filled with yearning.
that of absence has begun through
this parting, you who are filled with yearning;
on high because of this farewell,
you who are filled with yearning;
have been stilled by this departure,
you who are filled with yearning.
have paled at the prospect of this
absence, you who are filled with yearning;
about this leave-taking, you who
are filled with yearning;
after learning of this departure,
you who are filled with yearning:
for the wind of separation is blowing,
you who are filled with yearning!
In this time, when the bird of
eternity has flown from the land of Iraq and the people
of longing and yearning burn with the fire of separation,
this letter is being sent by this ephemeral ant to
the friends of God. Friends, weep for as long as you
have eyes, and cry out for as long as your souls exist,
for the carpet of union, joining, nearness and encounter
has been rolled up. Instead, the sovereign of destiny
has, by virtue of a preordained decree, spread out
the quilt of parting, leave-taking, absence and departure.
The gales of separation and regret have gusted with
such force that they have clothed the branches of being,
whether visible or invisible, with the cloak of nothingness,
then repaired to the blustery autumn of eternity.
Original Text, from Athar-i Qalam-i A`la Vol. 4 (Tehran: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1968), pp. 363-367.
Last Updated 11-27-98
WebMaster: Juan R.I. Cole
jrcole@umich.edu