…with nothing in their hands.

Sweet Talked Into Connection
from The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks ©2004

Stay with your family.
Do not wander away.

If you are an arc of the moon,
live the full circle.

Why should a part be coy with the whole?
Do you want compliments?
Do you want to be lied to?

As a genus branches and becomes a species,
so the unseen reaches here.

It's a constant natural process,
but you want to be sweet-talked
into connection.

It would be better
if a spirit-king slapped you awake.

Don't avoid discipline.
You have learned ways to make a living
for your body.  Now learn to support
your soul.  You wear fine clothing.
How do you dress your spirit?

This world is a playground
where children pretend to have shops.

Sometimes when they wrestle,
it may look like sex,
but none of it's real.

They exchange imaginary money.
Night comes, and they go home tired
with nothing in their hands.