Love Is Most Great!

The night’s vigil ended at break of dawn.
After breaking fast together over wine, pork, and song,
the Mad Fool of God left my presence;
he told me he’d now climb naked
the minaret of the Spheres,
and proclaim there a better Calling:

"Love is most great, Love is most great!
Love is most great, Love is most great!
I bear witness that there is no reality but Love,
I bear witness that there is no reality but Love!
I bear witness that Love is its own Prophet,
I bear witness that Love is its own Messenger!
Come to celebrate, come to surrender!
Come to consciousness, come to completion!
Love is most great, Love is most great!
There is no reality but Love!"

I told him he was mad, he answered,

No, he wasn’t angry at all, and we laughed, and he left.

But like that Great Woman of Basra

he’d carry torch and water pail,

to burn down paradise and put out hell’s fire – so that

Muslims might just once find something better to do

in the Name of God, than sparing themselves no effort

in erasing the "competition," and to reflect for once,

try loving God – without hope or fear, but for Love –

and after 14 centuries finally learn to dominate

themselves rather than "everyone else."