Dalqak’s Message

The King of Tirmid
has urgent business in Samarcand.

He needs a courier to go there and return
in five days. He offers many rewards to anyone 
who will make the journey—horses, servants, gold, 
and the robes of honor.
                                  Dalqak, the court clown,
is out in the country when he hears of this.
He quickly mounts a horse and rides toward town. 
He rides furiously. Two horses drop dead
of exhaustion under his whip.
                                           He arrives
covered with dust at some ungodly hour, 
demanding an audience with the king.

A panic sweeps the city. What calamity 
could be imminent that Dalqak, the buffoon, 
should be so distraught? Everyone gathers
at the palace.
                    "An evil omen is upon us!"
"Something has certainly been spilled on the rug
this time!"
               The king himself is worried.
"What is it, Dalqak?"
                             Whenever anyone asks Dalqak 
for particulars about anything, he first puts his finger
to his lips,
               Shhhhh . . .
                                 Everyone gets very quiet,
Dalqak makes another gesture as though to say 
he needs more time to catch his breath.

Another long wait. No one has ever seen Dalqak 
like this. Usually, he's a constant stream 
of new jokes. Usually, the king would be 
laughing so hard he'd fall on the floor 
holding his stomach. This quietness
is very odd and foreboding.
                                        Everyone's worst fears
come up.
              "The tyrant from Khwarism
is coming to kill us!"
                              "Dalqak, say what it is!"

"I was far from the court when I heard
that you needed a courier, someone who could go
to Samarcand and come back in five days.”
                                                                "Yes!"
"I hurried here to tell you 
that I will not be able to do it."
                                              "What!"
"I don't have the stamina or the agility. 
Don't expect me to be the one."
                                               "This
is what you made such a commotion about,
that you won't do it?”
                                 Dalqak is like those who pretend
to be on a brave spiritual path.
                                              The bridegroom's house
is in an uproar of preparation, always making ready
to receive the bride,
                              but the girl's family
knows nothing. Any message yet?
                                                  "No."
Any sign of activity?
                              "No."
                                       Letters have been written
and sent, but have any of them reached
the Friend? Has your inner
lover read them?