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Oh Bell!

~Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai

Oh bell!
How do you resound
With the Beloved’s sound?

The bell replied,
Flung into fire
I was born out of loss
Carved out of iron
Burnt by the blacksmith
Melted into shape
Singed by flames
Blisters on my skin
First the pain of separation
Then the hammer’s blow!
Placed on a slab
My head was cut off
Patterns carved on my skin
With a chisel
With Allah’s blessing
A hook was driven into my heart
And in my mouth
A gong was hung

 

Only then did I chant
Says Abdul Latif
The name of the Beloved