# Ode of the Dove

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

---

> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Ode of the Dove, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Ode of the Dove
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> Juan Cole, translator
> 
> 1997
> original title
> 
> Qasídiy-i- Varqá'íyyih
> 
> 1856(?)
> 
> see Bahá'u'lláh's own notes to this Tablet
> 
> In praise of the Beloved, secretly, in private.
> 
> He is the Exalted, the All-Glorious.
> 
> 1. I was enthralled by light rays from a face
> 
> Whose advent dimmed and darkened every star,
> 
> 2. As though the sunbeams of Her beauty's glow
> 
> appeared and dazzled planets from afar.
> 
> 3. Her joy diffused the musk of the unseen,
> 
> Her stature raised the Spirit up above.
> 
> 4. The End-Time's Trump resounded when She blew;
> 
> Her breath caused shadows of the clouds to move.
> 
> 5. Her gleam reveals Mount Sinai's deathlessness;
> 
> Baha's bright light is kindled when She glows.
> 
> 6. Then to Her west the sun of splendor dawned,
> 
> and to Her east, the moon of moons arose.
> 
> 7. The mistral's fragrance wafted from Her hair,
> 
> and Beauty's eyes were solaced by Her gaze.
> 
> 8. Her shining face gave Guidance sage advice,
> 
> and Moses' soul was cleansed by Her form's blaze.
> 
> 9. The heart of hearts embraced Her eyelid's dart.
> 
> For Her locks' lasso, Being's head was bent.
> 
> 10. Her footprints constitute My highest aim,
> 
> the earth She trod, the most high Throne's advent.
> 
> 11. To win Her I have wept in every eye;
> 
> in exile, I have burned in every fire.
> 
> 12. I spread myself out so that Her foot might
> 
> tread on My heart, and I win My desire.
> 
> 13. I sought to gain Our union everywhere;
> 
> I scrawled letters of nearness on all earth.
> 
> 14. And if I rush to oneness with Her light,
> 
> Then I am cast back, losing closeness' berth.
> 
> 15. And if I plead for union, hands upraised,
> 
> She answers with a sword: "My lovers' prize!"
> 
> 16. The firmness of our bond was My sole care;
> 
> Her goal is our relationship's demise.
> 
> 17. I said, "To meet, I'd offer Thee My all.
> 
> Have mercy, do not publish My disgrace.
> 
> 18. Since I love Thee too well, then make us one--
> 
> That we might for eternity embrace."
> 
> 19. By revelation's secret! Everything
> 
> appeared from Her unveiling. She raised Me!
> 
> 20. By Husayn's sorrow! Emulating Me,
> 
> the world-gyre is weighed down with agony.
> 
> 21. "Thou art My breast's desire, My soul's sole hope,
> 
> My spirit's master and My light, My heart.
> 
> 22. And after My hard journey, let's unite,
> 
> be intimates after My pain apart."
> 
> 23. My incandescence kindled every fuel,
> 
> the Seen world was illumined by My sigh.
> 
> 24. God's sea was dried up by My thirst, which the
> 
> wide stream of glory cannot satisfy.
> 
> 25. And all the gore that I saw on the earth
> 
> bespoke the tears of blood that My eyes shed.
> 
> 26. The ocean's but a drop before My tear,
> 
> The Friend's blaze was, before mine, underfed.
> 
> 27. For My grief froze the great sea of delight;
> 
> the spring of sorrow flowed at My despair
> 
> 28. My grandeur fainted and My brilliance swooned;
> 
> their gloating vanity snuffed out My flare.
> 
> 29. My bones were whittled down, My body worn;
> 
> The fever of My heat burned up My soul.
> 
> 30. Love for Thee felled Me, passion ground Me down.
> 
> To leave Thee melts Me; union is My goal.
> 
> 31. The secret of My sorrow cleft the sky,
> 
> My anguish sundered the earth of the breast.
> 
> 32. The tears in My eyes spoke of My heart's fire,
> 
> My face paled at the sighing of My chest.
> 
> 33. My critics' gloating makes Me wail all night.
> 
> I plead all day since My support is gone.
> 
> 34. For I have reached dishonor's lowest rung,
> 
> so that tongues stutter when they speak thereon.
> 
> 35. The houris in their castles clothed themselves
> 
> in mourning black at My soul's deep despair.
> 
> 36. I've fallen into anguish in all hearts;
> 
> I feel constricted in the open air.
> 
> 37. Then from behind Me She cried out, "Be still!
> 
> and hold Thy tongue from all that it hath told.
> 
> 38. How many Husayns like Thee wanted Me;
> 
> there love Me, just like Thee, `Alis untold.
> 
> 39. How many intimates I had who were
> 
> thy peers--and loves, superior to Thee
> 
> 40. Who always wail but cannot reach My gaze
> 
> one instant, by the light of unity.
> 
> 41. My dawn makes revelation's sun a star,
> 
> My brilliance makes pure light only a glint;
> 
> 42. My soul's gleam renders Being's secret naught,
> 
> Of My love's flames all bonfires only hint.
> 
> 43. My nature molded the creation's rite;
> 
> the White Palm was withdrawn before My hand.
> 
> 44. The stern injunction came from a clear Cause;
> 
> My wisdom's fairness shaped the just Command.
> 
> 45. The wave within Me stilled the ocean's surf;
> 
> the Holy Ghost stirred at My rapture's lights.
> 
> 46. Immortal Moses swooned before My gaze;
> 
> My gleam destroyed the Sinai of all heights.
> 
> 47. The spread of My Cause quickened all the souls;
> 
> old bones were wakened by My spirit's breath.
> 
> 48. The soul of this Cause circled round its House;
> 
> My visage raised that House's soul from death.
> 
> 49. The B of "speak the secret" swooned before
> 
> My Point! The B hides the realm of high lore.
> 
> 50. All guidance shines forth from My dawning Cause;
> 
> the news of My descent, all the heights bore.
> 
> 51. My bounties lent birdsongs their melody,
> 
> from My tune comes the humming of the bee.
> 
> 52. I rendered Thee a suspect by My Law:
> 
> Thou didst another's love quaff, wrongfully.
> 
> 53. Thou didst bring forth depictions and kinships
> 
> and crave names, thus departing from My way.
> 
> 54. Thou didst describe a self and say it's mine--
> 
> the gravest sin, for therein limits lay.
> 
> 55. Thou didst desire a hopeless union, the
> 
> condition for which Thou must satisfy:
> 
> 56. Thou must drain every cup of fate's ordeals;
> 
> thy heart must spew the blood of tyranny.
> 
> 57. Thou must cut off all hope of comfort's touch;
> 
> Thou must renounce every necessity.
> 
> 58. Thy duty is to shed blood in love's faith;
> 
> a love-scorched soul is fealty to Me.
> 
> 59. Nights spent awake at slanderer's attacks,
> 
> a constant stream of insults all the days;
> 
> 60. In My faith poison's as a healing drink;
> 
> in My Path, fate's wrath is a tender grace.
> 
> 61. Cease claiming to love, or accept all this,
> 
> For thus was it ordained in My Law's scroll."
> 
> 62. In private I called out to Her, "My love,
> 
> My ultimate hope and My heart's sole goal!
> 
> 63. I stand here in the presence of Thy might,
> 
> aspiring to all that Thou dost relate.
> 
> 64. Here I am asking for all Thou dost love,
> 
> then here I stand, prepared for thy mandate.
> 
> 65. My breast yearns for the shafts of thine assault;
> 
> My body craves the swords of cruelty.
> 
> 66. Thy fire's My light, thy harshness is My wish;
> 
> My rest is thy wrath, My goal thy decree.
> 
> 67. Look on the tears of My eyes, how they flow;
> 
> gaze on My inmost heart, how it doth fade.
> 
> 68. Each day the spears of all have struck Me down,
> 
> and each night I died by rejection's blade.
> 
> 69. I read each line of atheism's book;
> 
> each second I heard everyone's rude jeers,
> 
> 70. And faced false charges of idolatry.
> 
> Each day I was transfixed by exile's spears--
> 
> 71. As though fate's woes descended just for Me,
> 
> and fury's blades were sharpened for My neck:
> 
> 72. The grief of Jacob, Joseph's prison cell;
> 
> the Friend's white hot flames, and Job's tragic check;
> 
> 73. And Adam's brooding, Jonah's urgent flight;
> 
> the sad lament of David, Noah's cry;
> 
> 74. Eve's separation, Mary's agony;
> 
> Isaiah's trials, Zachariah's sigh.
> 
> 75. My rain of grief hath sealed the fate of all,
> 
> My flood of woes gave rise to all distress.
> 
> 76. See how I roamed the lands without a friend
> 
> save for the beast within the wilderness.
> 
> 77. At My heart's breaking, springs broke through the earth;
> 
> My open eyes caused heaven's eye to flow.
> 
> 78. My spirit's grief cut short the endless Soul;
> 
> the Most High Throne shook at My suffering's glow.
> 
> 79. Red everywhere was reddened by My blood,
> 
> and from My tears there grew up this world's bower.
> 
> 80. For bitter hurt in thy love's path is sweet;
> 
> From any but Thee heaven's mead is sour.
> 
> 81. And iron's scars can be seen on My neck,
> 
> on My legs marks of fetters yet remain;
> 
> 82. For not a day passed save that I was scorched
> 
> by clear prose and the hints verses contain.
> 
> 83. My spirit disappeared, My heart dissolved;
> 
> My soul boiled from the pain of misery.
> 
> 84. I was left with no spirit, heart or soul;
> 
> that I existed at all startled Me.
> 
> 85. My secret's loftiness convicted Me;
> 
> I wish that My creation never rose.
> 
> 86. For thus have difficulties wiped Me out,
> 
> and thus was I encompassed by My woes.
> 
> 87. Then I ascended and withdrew alone;
> 
> I reached the real Encounter in My heart.
> 
> 88. I saw Thy traits in My eyes' portraiture,
> 
> through Thine eye's glance, which is sharp as a dart.
> 
> 89. If I had limits, they appeared from Thee;
> 
> If I had traits then they derived from Thee.
> 
> 90. Night's darkness was fulfilled when I was roiled;
> 
> My joy refined the daylight's clarity.
> 
> 91. No matter if I am today cast out;
> 
> I saw, when sent forth, the exalted light.
> 
> 92. I knew Jerusalem by the Friend's glow;
> 
> I journeyed in Tihran when taking flight.
> 
> 93. My inner light gave Me faith in the Light;
> 
> I rose up, by the spirit, in My soul."
> 
> 94. I call on thee, life-spirit, to depart;
> 
> within Me, no part is left of the whole.
> 
> 95. Transcendent spirit, climb down from thy throne;
> 
> for thee, My stigma is no source of blame.
> 
> 96. I waken thee, My heart: thou must depart;
> 
> thou hast no honor in this realm of shame.
> 
> 97. My patience: Bear all that which Thou hast seen,
> 
> of hardship and of ease in thy Love's way.
> 
> 98. In spirit, She told Me to persevere:
> 
> "I knew of all the proofs Thou dost display.
> 
> 99. Forget all that Thou hast known and adored;
> 
> idolatry, for Me, is unity;
> 
> 100. For to Me Sinai's brightest glow is naught;
> 
> and the sublimest light is gloom to Me.
> 
> 101. Thy verses' sketch of Me is a child's truth;
> 
> For My subjects, thy words of praise are sound.
> 
> 102. I never ceased to dwell in sanctity,
> 
> and My transcendence hath remained unbound.
> 
> 103. How many just ones, I deemed mere despots;
> 
> how many wise ones I saw as untaught;
> 
> 104. How fleeting were immortals of all kinds;
> 
> how many learned never will know aught;
> 
> 105. How many worshippers have disobeyed;
> 
> how many genuflicting have not kneeled!
> 
> 106. My Being vindicated heaven's psalms;
> 
> My scripture hath unveiled scrolls that were sealed.
> 
> 107. My atom made the cosmic sun revolve,
> 
> My drop evoked great praise from Being's sea;
> 
> 108. The songs of all the creatures were to Me
> 
> the buzzing of a tiny ant or bee.
> 
> 109. All minds turned unto My soul's ecstasy;
> 
> all souls were by My spirit's tune revived.
> 
> 110. My raining Cause made deities divine;
> 
> all Lords have by My ample order thrived.
> 
> 111. The Spirit's realm moved in Me by decree;
> 
> I set My foot down on Mount Sinai's throne;
> 
> 112. At My light the star's radiance blazed forth;
> 
> the sun of rapture at My spirit shone.
> 
> 113. Collected verses, revelation's gleam;
> 
> the Traces and Day-Stars of sanctity;
> 
> 114. Thought's essences and contemplation's gems;
> 
> Light-beams' adornments, wisdom's jewelry.
> 
> 115. The Alpha of My Cause judged everyone;
> 
> all wonders came forth from My soul's good will.
> 
> 116. Thou didst leave Me and reckon thyself near,
> 
> and waters of whim in myth's spring didst spill.
> 
> 117. Thou dost forsake the Unseen's light, in what
> 
> Thou wreakest in thyself--and My works lose!
> 
> 118. Hold fast to the cord of the outward Cause;
> 
> to befriend light's concealed face must Thou choose.
> 
> 119. Rend nearness' veil without a hint! Look on
> 
> the sacred Beauty secretly, within.
> 
> 120. Be silent, for earth's Powers are disturbed.
> 
> Forbear! The Unseen's eyes wept a fountain.
> 
> 121. In Thee is veiled meaning beyond knowledge
> 
> that even radiant minds never knew.
> 
> 122. The holy mystery hides joy and friendship,
> 
> which Thou must not divulge if Thou be true.
> 
> 123. Wert Thou to unmask what Thou didst behold,
> 
> the world would in a trice be lost to sight!
> 
> 124. For thus the throne of glory hath decreed,
> 
> and so ordained the mystery of might.
> 
> 125. They who attain are blessed for they kept faith;
> 
> blessed are they who embrace the wondrous Rite;
> 
> 126. Blessed are the lovers for the blood they shed;
> 
> blessed are the ones who with My love unite.
> 
> 127. Blessed are the sincere, who to the shade of
> 
> My Lordliness made haste from every
> side."
> 
> See translator's notes.
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views25710 views since posted 2003-10-16; last edit 2022-06-18 18:54 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../bahaullah_ode_dove_cole;
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> — *Ode of the Dove (Used by permission of the curator)*