I died as mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was a man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet, once more, I shall die as a man, to soar-
With angels blessed, but even from angelhood
I must pass on; all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind e’er conceived,
Oh! Let me not exist, for non-existence
Proclaims in organ-tones, “To Him we shall return’!

— Rumi