Only God I Saw ~

In the market, in the cloister - only God I saw.
In the valley and on the mountain - only God I saw.

Him I have seen beside me oft in tribulation;
In favor and in fortune - only God I saw.

In prayer and fasting, in praise and contemplation,
In the religion of the Prophet - only God I saw.

Neither soul nor body, accident nor substance,
Qualities nor causes - only God I saw.

I opened mine eyes and by the light of his face around me
In all the eye discovered - only God I saw.

Like a candle I was melted in His fire;
Amidst the flames outflashing - only God I saw.

Myself with mine own eyes I saw most clearly,
But when I looked with God's eyes - only God I saw.

I passed away into nothingness, I vanished,
And lo, I was the All-living - only God I saw.

~Baba Kuhl of Shiraz