Part 16 (1/2)

”Ah me! Ah me!

If Hafiz only the Sun could be!”

And the Voice answered:

”Be thou the Sun”

And Hafiz became the Sun, and shone down upon the Earth, but, because he did not kno to shi+ne very wisely, he shone very fiercely, so that the crops dried up, and folk grew sick and died And then there arose from the East a little cloud which slipped between Hafiz and the Earth, so that he could no longer shi+ne down upon it, and he said: ”Is there soer in the world than the Sun?”

”Ah me! Ah me!

If Hafiz only the Cloud could be!”

”Be thou the Cloud

And Hafiz became the Cloud, and rained doater upon the Earth, but, because he did not kno to do so wisely, there fell so reat rivers, and all the great rivers overflowed their banks, and carried everything before thereat rock which stood uner than the Cloud?”

”Ah me! Ah me!

If Hafiz only the Rock could be!”

And the Voice said:

”Be thou the Rock”

And Hafiz became the Rock, and the Cloud disappeared and the waters went down

And Hafiz the Rock, saw co towards him a man--he could not see the face As the man approached he suddenly raised a hah all his stony body And Hafiz said: ”Is there soer in the world than the Rock?

”Ah ht be!”

And the Voice said:

”Be thou---Thyself”

And Hafiz seized the ha, the Cloud was stronger than the sun, the Rock was stronger then the Cloud, but I, Hafiz, was stronger than all”

Adapted and arranged by the Author