The naked truth.

I wrote a paper today for Sociology. Not a terribly exciting event, save for one fact: it was about people who run around naked. Isn't it funny how nudity makes everything more interesting? Like dancing to old 90s music, alternating between eating ice cream and using the spoon as a microphone. In case anyone was wondering, dancing around in my underwear has always been a favorite pasttime of mine. What can I say? I'm not a particular fan of clothes in general. Call me a free spirit or call me a slut, I don't really care. Go bundle up in your pants and shirts and socks. I'll do my thing.

I didn't really intend for this blog to be about my personal habits when my roommate isn't home, and I really don't want this to become crude, so I'll do a drastic change of subject now.

I was also doing some reading for my Western Civ history class today (hooray, she's catching up on homework that she missed during the week-long, illness-induced hiatus!) and I came across this really beautiful Muslim poem. I'm going to post it because honestly, I haven't done any good plagiarism lately (joking!), and I thought I'd have a go at it.

I believe it's called "The Shepherd's Care" by Jalaluddin al-Rumi. Obviously, it rhymes in Arabic (which must sound absolutely gorgeous I'm sure), but the English translation is still very pretty.

Join the community of saints and know the delight of your own soul.
Enter the ruins of your heart and learn the meaning of humility.

Drain the cup of passion and walk steadfast on the path of Truth.
Close both eyes and see the mysteries with your inner eye.

Open your arms if you want to Beloved's embrace.
Break your bonds with this body if you want to see His pure and radiant Face.

Would you marry an old woman to gain a dowry of a few pennies?
Would you face the threat of swords and spears for three loaves of bread?

The Saaqi is not a tyrant.
So come and sit within her circle.
How long will you stay outside and watch her dance the way you watch the circling night sky?

God's creation is vast --
Why do you sit all day in a tiny prison?

Look! He's giving you a real bargain --
Give up one and get a hundred.
Stop running around like a wolf or a dog -- stay and recieve the Shepherd's care.

You say, He stole away my sweetheart!
Forget it -- twenty more sweethearts will come

Thoughts of the Beloved will feed your soul.
How can your hunger be satisfied by thoughts of bread alone?

Speak little,
Learn the words of eternity.

Go beyond your tangled thoughts and find the splendor of Paradise.
Go beyond your little world and find the grandeur of God's world.


Now, those of you who know me will know that I am by no means an overly religious person. For clarification purposes only: I was raised Catholic, but I don't exactly agree with everything the Church teaches. Most Catholics my age don't, a fact which my parents resent greatly, but that's the generation gap for you. I support gay rights and birth control, and I have no problem with premarital sex. I'm officially "undecided" on the topic of abortion, because I've never been in a situation where I or anyone close to me has needed one, and therefore cannot form a decent opinion on the matter.

There. Go ahead and throw your Bibles at me, you traditionalists. Laugh at my ignorant belief in God, you atheists. Shrug your shoulders, everyone else.

At any rate, I think the poem is really beautiful. For a person who is only assured of God's actual existence about 63% of the time, I was impressed. The last four lines especially hit a chord with me, so to speak.

Go beyond your tangled thoughts. Go beyond your little world.