Roses From Rumi's Rose Garden

Worldly shapes are deceptive: Friends! If you pass beyond these deceiving forms You can see rose gardens behind other rose gardens When you break up and burn off your own form You have learnt to surrender to the universal form. (M III / 578-579) Kill these four birds: Cut off these four living birds' heads Make them immortal and save them from dust They are duck of greed, peacock of show Crow of desires and cock of lust They are four elements living in people's heads. (M V / 42-43)