| A BIRD was faint with thirst, |
1145 |
| The breath in his body was heaving like waves of smoke. |
| He saw a diamond in the garden: |
| Thirst created a vision of water. |
| Deceived by the sun bright stone |
| The foolish bird fancied that it was water. |
1150 |
| He got no moisture from the gem: |
| He pecked it with his beak, but it did not wet his palate. |
| "O thrall of vain desire," said the diamond. |
| Thou hast sharpened thy greedy beak on me; |
| But lam not a dew drop, I give no drink, |
1155 |
| I do not live for the sake of others. |
| Wouldst thou hurt me? Thou art mad! |
| A lie that reveals the Self is strange to thee. |
| MY water will shiver the beaks of birds |
| And break the jewel of man's like."91 |
1160 |
| The bird won not his heart's wish from the diamond |
| And turned away from the sparkling stone. |
| Disappointment swelled in his breast, |
| The song in his throat became a wail. |
| Upon a rose-twig a drop of dew |
1165 |
| Gleamed like the tear in a nightingale's eye: |
| All its glitter was owing to the sun, |
| It was trembling in fear ' Of the sun—A restless sky born star |
| That had stopped for a moment, from desire to be seen; |
1170 |
| Oft deceived by bud and flower, |
| It had gained nothing from Life. |
| There it hung, ready to drop. |
| Like a tear on the eyelashes of a lover who hath lost his heart. |
| The sorely distressed bird hopped under the rose-bush. |
1175 |
| The dewdrop trickled into his mouth. |
| O thou that wouldst deliver thy soul from enemies. |
| I ask thee "Art thou a drop of water or a gem ?" |
| When the bird melted in the fire of thirst, |
| It appropriated the life of another. |
1180 |
| The drop was not solid and gem-like; |
| The diamond had a being, the drop had none. |
| Never for an instant neglect Self-preservation: |
| Be a diamond, not a dewdrop! |
| Be massive in nature, like mountains, |
1185 |
| And bear on thy crest a hundred clouds laden with floods of rain! |
| Save thyself by affirmation of Self, |
| Compress thy quick silver into silver ore! |
| Produce a melody from the string of Self, |
| Make manifest the secrets of Self! |
1190 |
