Emptiness

Does anyone write something on a place
that has already been written over,
or plant a sapling where one already grows?
No; he seeks a blank piece of paper
and sows the seed where none has yet been
sown.

Sister, be bare earth;
be a clean piece of paper untouched by writing,
that you may be ennobled by the pen of
revelation*,
so that the Gracious One may sow seed within
you.

Mathnawi V, 1961-1964
Camille and Kabir Helminski translation

* Qur'an 68:1, Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen)
Nun wa'l Qalam (opening words of the Surah).