“Where did the handsome beloved go?” BY JALAL AL-DIN RUMI TRANSLATED BY BRAD GOOCH AND MARYAM MORTAZ

Where did the handsome beloved go? I wonder, where did that tall, shapely cypress tree go? He spread his light among us like a candle. Where did he go? So strange, where did he go without me? All day long my heart trembles like a leaf. All alone at midnight, where did that beloved go? Go to the road, and ask any passing traveler —  That soul-stirring companion, where did he go? Go to the garden, and ask the gardener —  That tall, shapely rose stem, where did he go? Go to the rooftop, and ask the watchman —  That unique sultan, where did he go? Like a madman, I search in the meadows! That deer in the meadows, where did he go? My tearful eyes overflow like a river —  That pearl in the vast sea, where did he go? All night long, I implore both moon and Venus —  That lovely face, like a moon, where did he go? If he is mine, why is he with others? Since he’s not here, to what “there” did he go? If his heart and soul are joined with God, And he left this realm of earth and water, where did he go? Tell me clearly, Shams of Tabriz, Of whom it is said, “The sun never dies” — where did he go?   Translated from the Persian

120. Yes and no 

• Incorrect: ‘Aren’t you going out?’ ‘Yes, I’m not.’ 

• Correct: ‘No, I’m not.’ 

• Correct: ‘Yes, I am.’ Yes is used with affirmative sentences and no with negative sentences.

 119. Will or shall? 

The distinctions between will and shall are now strictly observed only by precise speakers. 

Shall is becoming less common especially with the second and third person pronouns. 

With first person pronouns, however, shall is still being used to indicate the simple future. 

In conversation people generally use the shortened form ’ll.

 • We’ll have a party tomorrow. 

• I think I’ll send him a letter. 

In these sentences, according to strict grammatical rules, one has to use shall. 

But ’ll may be the contraction of either shall or will.

 However, research has shown that most people consider ’ll to be a contraction of will, which proves that in actual usage will has been replacing shall.

 Instead of using shall with second and third person pronouns to express a command, promise, threat or determination, people often use other verbs and forms of expression.

 For example, instead of saying ‘You shall go at once’, people often say: • You will have to go at once. 

• You are to go at once. • You must go at once. 

 118. Whose and who’s 

Whose is a possessive word. It is used in questions and relative clauses. 

Who’s is the contraction of who is or who has.

 • Incorrect: Who’s is this coat? 

• Correct: Whose is this coat? 

• Incorrect: Whose is that over there?

 • Correct: Who’s that over there? 

 

 117. Whether and if 

• Incorrect: We haven’t settled the question of if we should move to a new house. 

• Correct: We haven’t settled the question of whether we should move to a new house.

 Only whether is possible after a preposition.

 • Incorrect: They can’t decide if to wait or leave.

 • Correct: They can’t decide whether to wait or leave.

 Only whether can be used before to-infinitives.

 116. Why not + infinitive 

Read the following sentence: 

Why not arrange a party in his honor? 

This means ‘Why should we not arrange a party in his honor?’ 

It is a way of suggesting something for other people’s consideration and acceptance.

 • Incorrect: Why not you buy now and pay later? 

• Correct: Why not buy now and pay later? 

• Incorrect: Why not we dismiss the fellow? 

• Correct: Why not dismiss the fellow? 

This is a very common error which should be carefully avoided. No noun or pronoun should come after why not. 

 116. Why not + infinitive 

Read the following sentence: 

Why not arrange a party in his honor? 

This means ‘Why should we not arrange a party in his honor?’ 

It is a way of suggesting something for other people’s consideration and acceptance.

 • Incorrect: Why not you buy now and pay later? 

• Correct: Why not buy now and pay later? 

• Incorrect: Why not we dismiss the fellow? 

• Correct: Why not dismiss the fellow? 

This is a very common error which should be carefully avoided. No noun or pronoun should come after why not.