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Only Art Can Explain Art
Being an Artist shows itself in pain of heart;
No evil is comparable with this pain in the heart.
The suffering of artists is different from all others;
Art is the astrolabe of the mysteries of God.
Whether Art comes from earth or on heaven,
In the end it draws us to the Beloved:
Whatever I say to explain or describe Art
When I arive at art itself, I'm ashamed of my words.
The commentary of words can make things clear-
But Art without words has more clarity.
My pen was rushing to write its thoughts down;
When it came to Art it broke in two.
In speaking of Art the intelect is impotent,
Like a donkey trapped in a bog:
Only Art istself can explain Art,
Only Art can explain the destiny of artists.
The Proof of the sun is the sun itself:
If you want proof, don't turn your face away.
Mathnawi
-paraphrased by Emma Gardner |