The kiss of consciousness, Human and Divine. 
85 
If beautiful Habib plays ‘ kir ’4 or ‘ kun ’, 
And El Qahar the wise plays ‘ kun ’ or ‘ kir ’. 
 
Only we know that we in Him are dead, 
And that the Far is buried in the Near. 
 
Thus like a cherry-blossom is our life 
Floating unwetted on the moon-white mere.5 
 
It is no time to sing ;  for from the house 
Comes forth the bride Habib, sans prince or peer ; 
 
Unique Habib, who walketh like a cat, 
Sitteth, a swan, and runneth like a deer. 
 
His face is like the moon that shines upon 
The labouring Hajj,6 its camel-throned Emir.7 
 
For like a column of innumerous men 
Doth serpentine his body ;  he is here 
 
With hugs to break this breath, and with his 
mouth To stop the mouth of El Qahar the seer. 
 
 
 
1.  A river which flows by the ruins of Chilminar. 
2.  Cedar — dove’s down. By no means chosen 
at random ;  symbolically chosen, or perhaps even 
because these substances have a reputed value in 
mystical practices. Apollonius of Tyana ( ? connec-
tion with Dhyana) was accustomed to wrap himself 
completely in a woolen garment in order to perform 
magic — presumably with some idea of “ insula-
tion.”  Cedar is esteemed highly as incense.  The 
passage may mean :  “ I will float heavenward on 
the perfume of my adoration, being insulated from 
the world by my love (or the Holy Spirit) under 
That Tree.” i.e. the Tree of Life.