Tears of Longing

Lesson 313: Tears of Longing

Stare into filthy water, and how can you expect
Ever to see the moon or heaven?
The moon and heaven hide when the air grows dark;
It's the North Wind's breath that scours the air pure,
The morning breeze that sweeps all clouds from dawn.
It is tears of longing that clean the mirror of the heart.

- Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

(Translated by Andrew Harvey from A Year of Rumi)