How can a fellow spiritual man mistake his meaning? Thus that minstrel began his intoxicating song, "O give me Thy cup, Thou whom I see not! Thou art my face; what wonder if I see it not? Thou art my reason; what wonder if I see Thee not Through the multitude of intervening obstacles? Thou art 'nearer to me than my neck vein,' How can I call to Thee, 'Ho,' as if thou wert far off? Nay, but I will mislead some by calling in the desert, To hide my Beloved from those of whom I am jealous!"

As regards the erotic poetry which is recited in Sufi gatherings, and to which people sometimes make objection, we must remember that, when in such...