Famous Poems: Poetry Competition

I ran out of time in the previous round, and I apologize for forfeiting. Once more Darth is a most fair competitor that he allowed me to post both my rounds. My third round is on the docs. google link, and it is within the 8, 000 character limit. Link for round 3: . https://docs.google.com...For my last round I shall post a most wonderful poem. This poem is not one most will be familiar with, its a poem which was originally writted in Punjabi by a writer named Baba Bulleh Shah. The poem embodies Sufi thought, alongside mysticism, and preaches an open love. It also asks an important existential question, and seeks to determne "what we are". More analysis later to come, allow me to post the poem. Once more I shall explain later, but Baba Bulleh Shah is one of the most esteemed Muslim saints, he is given great respect throughout the Muslim world, and his poetry is praised throughout for its mental indepth. Bulleh Ki Jana Mein Kon? (Bulleh Who Knows Who Am I? ) by Baba Bulleh Shah translated by Mahmood JamalBulleh, Who knows who I am? Not a believer in the mosque am I, Nor a disbeliever with his rites am I. I am not the pure amongst the impure, Neither Moses nor Pharaoh am I. Bulleh, Who knows who I am? Not in the Holy Books am I, Nor do I dwell in bhang or wine,Nor do I live in a drunken haze, Nor in sleep, nor waking knwon. Bulleh, Who knows who I am? Not in happiness or in sorrow am I found. I am neither pure nor mired in filthy ground. Neither made from earth or water, Nor am I in air or fire to be found. Bulleh, Who knows who I am? Not an Arab, nor Lahori Not a Hindi or Naghouri,Nor a Muslim, or a Peshawari, Not a Buddhist or a Christian. Bulleh, Who knows who I am? Secrets of religion I have not unravelled, Nor have I fathomed Eve, and Adam. Neither still nor moving on, I have not chosen my own name! Bulleh, Who knows who I am? From first to last, I searched myself, None other did I succeed in knwoing. Not some great thinker am I, Who is standing in my shoes, alone? Bulleh, Who knows who I am? Here is an audio: . http://www.youtube.com...It really is a beautiful poem. For those confused, Bulleh does not mean anything here, it is the poet addressing himself. Bulleh Shah wrote in the classic kafi style of poetry which was both exciting, and original. He is one of the foremost Punjabi poets, and his works on the Quran, Hadith, and mystic ideology is revered throughout Pakistan. He is also knows for his criticism of classic Muslim dogmatists, where in another poem he urges them to "read your Self" even if you "have read a thousand books". He marks an important point in metaphysical thought. The entire poem asks who one is? It questions how one ought to define oneself. In the end who is one from the inside? Bulleh Shah acquired many disciples many of whom were Hindus, he preached love for everyone through his poetry and his sermons. He also uses many metaphors like "fire" to refer to angery, hatred, and distrust, and "water" to show flow, happiness, contentment. The motif that no one is perfect, that each person has their flaws, and that we are all in between somewhere is evident. In the end when we must unite in Spirit then we must not consider which country we are from, or anything such. Bulleh Shah wasa firm believer that humans are not to be held how they are born, but who they choose to be. He was vehemently opposed to the cast system, and chose to walk around barefoot. Bulleh Shah was also a descendnt of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). In that age there was a custom that any person who is a descendent of the Prophet will not be taught by an ordinary man, no matter how pious. Bulleh Shah broke this custom and took Hadhrat Inayat Shah Qadri, a great man, but not a descendent of the Prophet as his mentor. He constantly preached that how or what we are born is, is not us, but we choose to be one or the other. He humbly admits that he is more of a mystic that a scholar, and that his focus is in "loving the Divine, and fearing that my eyes should ever turn anywhere else". Through out the poem the message of universal love is preached, the lesson that we choose to be who we are, and that we must analyze ourselves before anything else. Just as Socrates says: 'the unexamined life is not worth living", Bulleh Shah speaks to us for understanding Ourselves. In that there is the annihilation which Sufis are obsessed with, to reach a point where we forget who we are, or what we are. "It is you alone,Not I, my love. You are; I'm not" As the above excerpt from another poem exemplifies the meaning of this poem, we must annihilate ourselves after identifying who we appear to be. We must become lost in the Divine, in Love and in nothing else. This poem is a summary of that entire message and more, it is a guide to the path, and an argument, it is beauty, it is simply Divine. I hope you enjoyed. Ajab