My head is giving me hell, said the old man
This comes from old age, the medic said
I see dark spot in front of my eyes
That comes of old age, the ancient one
I get terrible backaches
That comes of old age, skinny old fellow
Everything I eat, I throw up
A weak stomach comes from old age
Breathing hurts me
Yes, it’s probably asthma
*Old age brings on two hundred ailments *
You fool, said the old man
*your needle is stuck; *
that’s all you’ve learned of medicine.
*Addlepate, your intellect has *
not taught you God has a
cure for every pain.
*Idiot-of-a-donkey, it’s sheer *
*foolishness keeping you *
stuck in the mud, you have
the feet to pick yourself up.
*The doctor said: Sexagenarian, *
*your bad temper and rage are *
also of old age. Since parts and
*functions your body are *
*faded, your self-control and *
patience have faded too
An old man endures nothing
*he cries out at once; he cannot *
keep down a single gulp
he vomits it, except of course
when intoxicated with God
who gives him a goodly life
*outwardly he’s old, but *
inwardly he’s youthful.
Link: http://whitewings.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/08/idiot-of-a-donkey-it-s-sheer-foolishness-rumi.htm
Note: Adapted by Ravi Kopra from ‘Tales from Masnavi’ by
Jalal al-Din Rumi, translated by A.J. Arberry.
‘The Old man and the doctor, on inveterate wickedness’
http://www.khamush.com/tales_from_masnavi.htm#The%20miracle%20of%20the%20wine