Jalal ad Dîn Rumi

I died to the mineral state and became a plant; I died to the vegetable state and reached animality;

I died to the animal state and became a man; then what should I fear? — I have never become less from dying.

At the next charge (forward) I will die to human nature, so that I may lift up (my) head and wings (and soar) among the angels.

And I must (also) jump from the river of (the state of) the angel: “Everything perishes except His Face.”¹

Once again I will become sacrificed from (the state of) the angel; I will become that which cannot come into the imagination.

Then I will become non-existent; non-existence says to me (in tones) like an organ: “Truly, to Him is our return.”