I went down to the sea, and said to the restless wave, ‘You are for ever searching – what is your trouble? Your bag contains a thousand glowing pearls, but do you, like me, have in your breast a pearl of a heart?’ It writhed in pain and drew away from the shore. It did not say a word.

I went up to the mountain and said, ‘How unfeeling you are! Have the sighs and screams of a soul in torment ever reached your ears? If within your rocks there is only one diamond formed from a drop of blood. Then come for a moment and talk to a wretched man like me. It withdrew into itself and held its breath; it did not say a word.

I traveled far, and asked the moon, ‘Your lot is to keep traveling, is it also your lot to reach a destination? Your face sends out rays that turn the world into a land of Jasmine. But does the radiance of the scar on your face come from the glow of a heart or not? It cast a jealous glance at the star; it did not say a word.

I left the moon and the sun behind, and reached the presence of God. I said, ‘Not one atom in Your world is intimate with me. The world has no heart, but I, though a handful of dust, am all heart. It is a pleasant garden, but unworthy of my song!’ A smile appeared on His lips He did not say a word.