I saw Paradise at dawn

excerpts from Rabi’a al-’Adawiyya’s “Doorkeeper of the Heart”

photograph by A.B. Godfreed

Why do you worship God…?
In fear and terror,
Because I was afraid
and desired it

Whoever breaks the merchandise
Has to have bought it first.
How then can I accept a gift
of stolen goods?

I don’t mourn for things
that make me suffer,
I spun some yarn to sell for food

Where did you come from?
From There
And I am here too:
alone, hidden from all of them —
With You

I see the white pages of my deeds,
Tossing in the wind.
…let me rest in my own house —
Burn like wax, and give light.

This is my prayer
If you hadn’t singled me out
to suffer your love,
let God be satisfied with me.

***

This piece is composed solely out of phrases taken randomly from “Doorkeeper of the Heart…