Story of a Monad

"'Allah, Allah!' cried the sick man, racked with pain the long night through;Till with prayer his heart grew tender, till his lips like honey grew.But at morning came the Tempter; said, 'Call louder, child of Pain!See if Allah ever hears, or answers, 'Here am I,' again."Like a stab the cruel cavil through his brain and pulses went;To his heart an icy coldness, to his brain a darkness sent.

Then before him stands Elias; says, 'My child, why thus dismayed?Dost repent thy former fervor? Is thy soul of prayer afraid?'Ah!' he cried, 'I've called so often; never heard the "Here am I;"And I thought God will not pity; will not turn on me his eye.'Then the grave Elias answered, God said, Rise, Elias; goSpeak to him, the sorely tempted; lift him from his gulf of woe.Tell him that his very longing is itself an answering cry;That his prayer, "Come, gracious Allah!" is my answer, "Here am I."'Every inmost aspiration is God's angel undefiled;And in every 'O my Father!' slumbers deep a 'Here, my child.'"