Beware of forsaking reverence: this is the street of God's Beloved
This is the place of the Divine gaze, the station of Mustafa
Nabi, Dîvân, *na't* (poem in praise of the Prophet), 17th century.
These words are spoken at a threshold.
Here Nabi lowers his voice.
Adab (reverent courtesy), before any rule,
is knowing where you stand.
Life is such a place too.
If a person is a guest there,
he steps softly.
Wealth goes, beauty goes.
What remains is how you stood.
Beware, says the poet.
This is a place that is looked upon.