THAT thou can't never end, doth make thee great, <br />And that thou ne'er beginnest, is thy fate. <br />Thy song is changeful as yon starry frame, <br />End and beginning evermore the same; <br />And what the middle bringeth, but contains <br />What was at first, and what at last remains. <br />Thou art of joy the true and minstrel-source, <br />From thee pours wave on wave with ceaseless force. <br />A mouth that's aye prepared to kiss, <br /> <br />A breast whence flows a loving song, <br />A throat that finds no draught amiss, <br /> <br />An open heart that knows no wrong. <br /> <br />And what though all the world should sink! <br /> <br />Hafis, with thee, alone with thee <br /> <br />Will I contend! joy, misery, <br /> <br />The portion of us twain shall be; <br />Like thee to love, like thee to drink,-- <br /> <br />This be my pride,--this, life to me! <br /> <br />Now, Song, with thine own fire be sung,-- <br />For thou art older, thou more young!<br /><br />Johann Wolfgang von Goethe<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/book-of-hafis-the-unlimited/
