Should I fear?

Poem On Reincarnation

Written by Jalai Al-Din

I died from the mineral and became a plant;

I died from the plant, and reappeared in an animal;

I died from the animal and became a man;

Wherefore then should I fear?

When did I grow less by dying?

Next time I shall die from the man,

That I may grow the wings of angels.

From the angel, too, must I seek advance;

All things shall perish save His face

Once more shall I wing my way above the angels;

I shall become that which entereth not the imaginations.

Then let me become naught, naught, for the harp string crieth unto me,

Verily unto Him do we return...