When a lamp takes light from a candle,
whoever sees it has surely seen that candle.
چون چراغی نور شمعی را کشید
هر که دید آن را یقین آن شمع دیدÇûn çerâğî nûr-ı şem'î râ keşîd
Her ki dîd ân râ yakîn ân şem' dîd
Rumi, Masnavi, Book I, the story of the old harpist.
A candle burns.
The lamp beside it catches from it.
Then another.
Then the hundredth.
Rumi says
whoever sees the last
has seen the first.
Light changes hands;
it does not lessen.
This chapter closes here.
From one word to another,
from one heart to another.
Now it is your turn.
Look whether there is a lamp
standing dark beside you.