I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels blest; 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.'

     --Jalal ed-Din Rumi (1207-1273)   Translated by A.J. Arberry
                  This comes from the webpage http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/Poets/Rumi.html