“The Kiss” woodblock print by Peter Behrens, 1898
Love is the whole thing. We are only pieces. Love is the sea of no end. We are a drop of it. Love brings forth hundreds of proofs. We can find our way only through them. The sky turns only with Love. Without Love, even the stars Are eclipsed, extinguished. With Love, hunched back dal become elif. Once elif loses Love, it turns into dal. The word is the Fountain of Life, Because it originates From the Love of the knowledge Of the real truth of things. Don’t keep Love away from your Soul, So that your good deeds may bear fruit And keep growing. —Jalāl ad-Dīn Rumi, 13th century