Poem XVII

1I was on that day when the Names were not,Nor any sign of existence endowed with name.

2By me Names and Named were brought to viewOn the day when there were not ‘I’ and ‘We.’

3For a sign, the tip of the Beloved’s curl became a centre of revelation;As yet the tip of that fair curl was not.

4Cross and Christians, from end to end,I surveyed; He was not on the Cross.

5I went to the idol-temple, to the ancient pagoda;No trace was visible there.

6I went to the mountains of Herāt and Candahār;I looked; He was not in that hill-and-dale.

7With set purpose I fared to the summit of Mount Qāf;In that place was only the ‘Anqā’s habitation.

8I bent the reins of search to the Ka‘ba;He was not in that resort of old and young.

9I questioned Ibn Sīnā of his state;He was not in Ibn Sīnā’s range.

10I fared towards the scene of “two bow-lengths’ distance”;He was not in that exalted court.