Brings the Caliph who lives near the river
A jar of fresh water. The Caliph accepts, thanks him,
And gives in return a jar filled with gold coins.
Since this man has come through the desert,
He should return by water. Taken out by another door,
The man steps into a waiting boat and sees
The wide freshwater of the Tigris. He bows his head,
What wonderful kindness that he took my gift.
Every object and being in the universe is a jar
Overfilled with wisdom and beauty, a drop of the Tigris
That cannot be contained by any skin. Every jarful
Spills and makes the earth more shining,
as though covered in satin. Rumi, translated Barks
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