INFINITE MIND, FINITE WORLD

that lasted for a few years. It felt as though I had become isolated. Some people passed away, others left me, and others became angry. Naturally, I prayed for my mission of introducing the peaceful message of Islam to be revived, for companions to join me once again, and for the work to resume as it once was. However, it felt as though my prayers were not being answered. Because those who had become angry with me remained angry, none of them returned. Some passed away, some went elsewhere, and many good minds who had once been with me left me. I became alone. In those times of loneliness, I used to read a poem, and I would like to share it with you. The poem is titled The Last Rose of Summer, and it is written by the Irish poet, Thomas Moore, who died in 1852. This poem was translated by an Urdu poet. I used to read it. The Last Rose of Summer ’Tis the last rose of summer, Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone; No flower of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes, Or give sigh for sigh! I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one, To pine on the stem; Since the lovely are sleeping, Go sleep thou with them. Thus kindly I scatter Thy leaves o’er the bed, Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead. So soon may I follow, When friendships decay, And from Love’s shining circle The gems drop away! When true hearts lie wither’d, And fond ones are flown, Oh! who would inhabit This bleak world alone?”