The Importance Of Gourd-crafting - Rumi Poem (Moderation and Mastery)

[Thought Art]

The Importance Of Gourd-Crafting (NSFW)

There was a maid servant

who had cleverly trained a donkey

to perform the services of a man

 

From a gourd 

she had carved a flanged device 

to fit on the donkey's penis,

to keep him from going too far into her.

 

She had fashioned it just to the point

of her pleasure, and she greatly enjoyed

the arrangement, as often as she could!

 

She thrived, but the donkey was getting

a little thin and tired looking.

 

The mistress began to investigate. One day

she peeked through a crack in the door

and saw the animal's marvellous member

and the delight of the girl

stretched under the donkey

 

She said nothing. Later, she knocked on the door

and called the maid out on an errand,

a long and complicated errand

I won't go into details

 

The servant knew what was happening, though.

"Ah, my mistress," she thought to herself,

"You should not send away the expert.

When you begin working without full knowledge, 

you risk your life. Your shame keeps you

from asking me about the gourd, but you must

have that to join with this donkey.

There is a trick you don't know!"

 

But the woman was to fascinated with her idea 

to consider any danger. She led the donkey in

and closed the door, thinking, "with no one around 

I can shout in my pleasure."

                                         She was dizzy

with anticipation, her vagina glowing

and singing like a nightingale.

 

She arranged the chair under the donkey,

as she had seen the girl do. She raised her legs 

and pulled him into her.

 

                                       Her fire kindled more,

and the donkey politely pushed as she urged him to,

pushed through and into her intestines,

and without a word she died.

The chair fell one way,

and she the other.

The room was smeared with blood.

                                     

Reader,

have you ever seen anyone martyred 

for a donkey? Remember what the Qur'an 

says about the torment of disgracing yourself.

Don't sacrifice your life to your animal soul!

If you die of what that leads you to do,

you are just like this woman on the floor.

 

She is an image of immoderation. 

Remember her,

and keep your balance.

The maidservant returns and says, "Yes, you saw

my pleasure, but you didn't see the gourd

that put a limit on it. You opened 

your shop before a master

taught you the craft."

-Rumi

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After some recent experiences this poem continued to pop up into my head. I can think of all the times in my life which I did not take into account the craft of gourd-making in my own way, which has lead to trouble and risks. I think we can learn a lot from this rather crude poem... That we can have the pleasures and the goods from out spiritual, professional, sexual, strategic etc endeavours. But, have we made sure the donkey is wearing the gourd? Are we in balance? Are we open to asking questions to ensure we are going about our practice in the right and balanced way? 

This I think it true of many Leo's teachings! 

Much love.

Edited July 16, 2021 by Thought Art