№ 441. Listen, O Drop

"Listen, O drop, give yourself up without regret,
and in exchange gain the Ocean.

Listen, O drop, bestow upon yourself this honor,
and in the arms of the Sea be secure.

Who indeed should be so fortunate?
An Ocean wooing a drop!

In God's name, in God's name, sell and buy at once!
Give a drop, and take this Sea full of pearls.”

--- Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi (1207–1273)



Rumi was a 13th century Persian poet, jurist, theologian and teacher of Sufism. He was also the founder of the Mevlevi order, also known as the Whirling Dervishes.