The Death of Saladin
You left ground and sky weeping,
mind and soul full of grief.
No one can take your place in existence
or in absence. Both mourn,
the angels, the prophets, and this sadness
I feel has taken from me the taste of language,
so that I can’t say the flavor
of my being apart. The roof
of the kingdom within has collapsed!
When I say the word you,
I mean a hundred universes.
Pouring grief of water, or secret dripping
in the heart, eyes in the head or eyes
of the soul, I saw yesterday
that all these flow out to find you
when you’re not here.
That bright fire bird Saladin
went like an arrow, and now the bow
trembles and sobs.
If you know how to weep for human beings,
weep for Saladin.
From The Book of Love
Translated by Coleman Barks
