Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali:

Ghazali's Death

Go tell my brothers, when they find me dead
and cry and wail and let their tears run free:
"Am I that body lying in that bed?
I swear to God, that body is not me!

When I had form and space, my body's shape
I wore like clothes that all of you could see.
Now I'm a bird - and cages I escape!
I leave my cage for you as memory."

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Al-Ghazali (Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali, 1058-1111) was a pre-eminent Islamic jurist and scholar who, in the later part of his life, became a Sufi (Moslem mystic). This poem was found under his head when he died.

Since I am not able to tackle the original, I want to express my sincere appreciation for Martin Ling's inspired, free-verse translation, which I found cited in John Baldock's 2004 book Sufism. My rhymed paraphrase was made mostly for my own pleasure/challenge - Q: Did my rhymes allow its spirit to fly free? A: Not really! - but I'd like to dedicate it nevertheless to those very rare, very noble souls for whom belief in their eternal existence - beyond societal expedience and psychological comfort - truly serves as their very own motivation toward a common good and a shared beauty.

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Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali:

Ghazalis Tod

Sag meinen Brüdern, wenn sie, außer sich,
mich tot hier finden und in Tränen klagen:
"Bin ich der Leichnam, den ihr wollt begraben?
Ich schwör's bei Gott, der Leichnam bin nicht ich.

Als ich Gestalt noch hatte, diese Haut
war mir Gewand. Ich trug sie eine Stunde…
Ein Vogel, ich, dem Käfig angetraut!
Ich floh - und, fliehend, laß ihn euch zur Kunde."