Sadi was one of the major medieval Persian poets of the 12th century. Here’s a soulful passage on appreciation of the Divine gifts.
Passage
For thee is set the bright moon in the sky by night, the world-illuminating sun by day.
Like a chamberlain, the heavens spread for thee the carpet of the Spring.
The wind and snow, the clouds and rain, the roaring thunder and the lightning glittering as a sword—all are His agents, obedient to His word, nourishing the seed that thou hast planted in the soil.
If thou be athirst, fret not; the clouds bear water upon their shoulders.
From the bee He giveth thee honey, and manna from the wind; fresh dates from the date-tree and the date-tree from a seed.
For thee are the sun and moon and the Pleiades; they are as lanterns upon the roof of thy house.
He bringeth roses from the thorn and musk from a pod; gold from the mine and green leaves from a withered stick.
With His own hands did He paint thine eye and eyebrows—one cannot leave one’s bosom friends to strangers.
Omnipotent is He, nourishing the delicate with His many bounties.
Render thanks each moment from thy heart, for gratitude is not the work of the tongue alone.
O God, my heart is blood, mine eyes are sore when I behold thy indescribable gifts.
A. Hart Edwards. The Bustan of Sadi, 1911.
