Upon the threshing-floor of life I burn <br />Beside the Winnower a word to learn; <br />And only this: Man's of the soil and sun, <br />And to the soil and sun he shall return. <br />And like a spider's house or sparrow's nest, <br />The Sultan's palace, though upon the crest <br />Of glory's mountain, soon or late must go: <br />Ay, all abodes to ruin are addrest. <br />So, too, the creeds of Man: the one prevails <br />Until the other comes; and this one fails <br />When that one triumphs; ay, the lonesome world <br />Will always want the latest fairy-tales. <br />Seek not the Tavern of Belief, my friend, <br />Until the Sakis there their morals mend; <br />A lie imbibed a thousand lies will breed, <br />And thou'lt become a Saki in the end. <br />Now, mosques and churches - even a Kaaba Stone, <br />Korans and Bibles - even a martyr's bone,- <br />All these and more my heart can tolerate, <br />For my religion's love, and love alone.<br /><br />Ameen Rihani<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/upon-the-threshing-floor-of-life/
