Rumi's Masnavi - The cow grazes in the light of the pearl; (then) suddenly it moves some distance away from the pearl.

The cow grazes in the light of the pearl; (then) suddenly it moves some distance away from the pearl.

A trader (appears and) puts black loam on the pearl, so that the meadow and verdant ground becomes dark.

Then the trader takes refuge on a tree, while the cow seeks the man with its hard horn.

Twenty times the cow runs about the meadow, in order to impale its enemy on its horn. 2930

When the fierce cow despairs of (finding) him, it comes to the place where the pearl was laid

And sees the loam (spread) over the royal pearl; then it runs away from the clay, like Iblís.

(Since) Iblís is blind and deaf to the gist (spiritual content) of the clay (of Adam), how should the cow know that the pearl is in the clay?

(The Divine command) fall ye cast the spirit into abasement: this menstruation excluded it from prayer (communion with God).

O comrades, beware of this resting-place and of that (idle) talk: verily, sensuality is the menstruation of men. 2935

(The Divine command) fall ye cast the spirit into the body, that the pearl of Aden might be hidden in clay.