Keep Your Heart Awake

There are many whose eyes are awake
And whose hearts are asleep;

Yet, what can be seen

By mere creatures of water and clay?

But he who keeps his heart awake

Will know and live this mystery;

While the eyes of his head may sleep

His heart will open hundreds of eyes.

If your heart isn’t yet illuminated

Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart,

Be at war continuously with your carnal soul.

But if your heart is already awakened,

Sleep peacefully, sleep in the arms of love,

For your spiritual eye is not absent

From the seven heavens and seven directions.

-Rumi

Translation by Andrew Harvey