Everywhere veiled

by Fakhruddin Iraqi

English version by William Chittick and Peter Lamborn Wilson
Original Language Persian/Farsi

Everywhere veiled
     by Your own Face
You are hidden from the world
     in Your very manifestation.
Look where I will
     I see Your Face alone;
in all these idols
     I see only You.
Jealous lest You be recognized
     at every instant
You dress Your Beauty
     in a different cloak.

-- from Fakhruddin Iraqi: Divine Flashes (Classics of Western Spirituality) , Translated by William Chittick / Translated by Nasr Seyyed Hossein

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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

Reading this poem raises a question-- As we walk daily through the world, do we merely look, or do we see? And when we truly see, how can we do anything but stop in mute wonder and melt?

Look where I will
     I see Your Face alone








Everywhere veiled