Shahram Shiva

Shahram Shiva (fl. 1990s–present), also known as Valentino St. Germain, is an author, writer, poet, recording artist and translator of the works of Rumi. Shiva is also the founder of Rumi Network.

Quotes

Translations

Hush, Don't Say Anything to God (1999)

To love is to reach God.

My head is bursting with the joy of the unknown.

Love rests on no foundation. It is an endless ocean, with no beginning or end.

This is a gathering of Lovers. In this gathering there is no high, no low, no smart, no ignorant, no special assembly, no grand discourse, no proper schooling required.

Love said to me, there is nothing that is not me. Be silent.

Even if you lose yourself in wrath for a hundred thousand years, at the end you will discover, it is me, who is the culmination of your dreams.

Didn't I tell you?
They will accuse you of all the wrongdoings, they will call you ugly names, they will make you forget it is me, who is the source of your happiness.

• To Love is to reach God.
  Never will a Lover's chest
  feel any sorrow.
  Never will a Lover's robe
  be touched by mortals.
  Never will a Lover's body
  be found buried in the earth.
  To Love is to reach God.

• When in Love,
  body, mind, heart and soul don't even exist.

• Love rests on no foundation.
  It is an endless ocean,
  with no beginning or end.

• They will ask you
  what you have produced.
  Say to them,
  except for Love,
  what else can a Lover produce?

• My head is bursting
  with the joy of the unknown.
  My heart is expanding a thousand fold.
  Every cell,
  taking wings,
  flies about the world.
  All seek separately
  the many faces of my Beloved.

• There is a certain cloud,
  impregnated with a
  thousand lightnings.
  There is my body,
  in it an ocean formed of his glory,
  all the creation,
  all the universes,
  all the galaxies,
  are lost in it.

• I always thought that
  I was me — but no,
  I was you
  and never knew it.

• This is a gathering of Lovers.
  In this gathering
  there is no high, no low,
  no smart, no ignorant,
  no special assembly,
  no grand discourse,
  no proper schooling required.
  There is no master,
  no disciple.
  This gathering is more like a drunken party,
  full of tricksters, fools,
  mad men and mad women.
  This is a gathering of Lovers.

• Love said to me,
  there is nothing that is not me.
  Be silent.

• I don't know where I am.
  At times I plunge
  to the bottom of the sea,
  at times, rise up
  like the Sun.
  At times, the universe is pregnant by me,
  at times I give birth to it.

• A hundred souls cried out, but
  we are yours, we are yours, we are yours.
  You are the light
  that spoke to Moses and said
  I am God, I am God, I am God.
  I said Shams-e Tabrizi, who are you?
  He said, I am you, I am you, I am you.

• Even if you lose yourself in wrath
  for a hundred thousand years,
  at the end you will discover,
  it is me, who is the culmination of your dreams.

• Didn't I tell you
  not to be satisfied with the veil of this world?
  I am the master illusionist,
  it is me, who is the welcoming banner at the gate of your contentment.

• Didn't I tell you?
  I am an ocean, you are a fish;
  do not go to the dry land,
  it is me, who is your comforting body of water.

• Didn't I tell you?
  They will accuse you of all the wrongdoings,
  they will call you ugly names,
  they will make you forget
  it is me, who is the source of your happiness.

• Love is best when mixed with anguish.
  In our town,
  we won't call you a Lover
  if you escape the pain.
  Look for Love in this way,
  welcome it to your soul,
  and watch you spirit fly away in ecstasy.

• I am so drunk
  I have lost the way in
  and the way out.
  I have lost the earth, the moon, and the sky.
  Don't put another cup of wine in my hand,
  pour it in my mouth,
  for I have lost the way to my mouth.

• Everyday my heart falls deeper in the pain of your sorrow.
  Your cruel heart is weary of me already.
  You have left me alone, yet your sorrow remains.
  Truly your sorrow is more faithful than you are.