The Khalifa said to Laila, "Art thou really she <br />For whom Majnun lost his head and went distracted? <br />Thou art not fairer than many other fair ones." <br />She replied, "Be silent; thou art not Majnun!" <br /> <br /> <br />If thou hadst Majnun's eyes, <br />The two worlds would be within thy view. <br />Thou art in thy senses, but Majnun is beside himself. <br />In love to be wide awake is treason. <br />The more a man is awake, the more he sleeps (to love); <br />His (critical) wakefulness is worse than slumbering. <br /> <br /> <br />Our wakefulness fetters our spirits, <br />Then our souls are a prey to divers whims, <br />Thoughts of loss and gain and fears of misery. <br />They retain not purity, nor dignity, nor lustre, <br />Nor aspiration to soar heavenwards. <br />That one is really sleeping who hankers after each whim <br />And holds parley with each fancy.<br /><br />Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/laila-and-the-khalifa/
