Renderings of Hafiz

My Brilliant Image

One day the sun admitted,

I am just a shadow.

I wish I could show you

The Infinite Incanescence (Tej)

That has cast my brilliant image!

I wish I could show you,

When you are lonely or in darkness,

The Astonishing Light

Of your own Being!

 

If your cellar is empty

This whole Universe

Could drink forever

From mine! 

 

Would You Think It Odd?

Would you think it od if Hafiz said,

"I am in love with every church

And mosque

And temple

And any kind of shrine

Because I know it is there

That people say the different names

Of the One God."

Would you tell your friends

I was a bit strange if I admitted

I am indeed in love with every mind

And heart and body.

I I am sincerely

Plumb crazy

About your every thought and yearning

And limb

Because, my dear,

I know

That it is through these

That you search for Him. 

Cast All Your Votes for Dancing

I know the voice of depression

Still calls to you.

I know those habits that can ruin your life

Still send their invitations.

But you are with the Friend now

And look so much stronger.

You can stay that way

And even bloom!

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

And rom your companions' beautiful laughter.

Keep squeezing drops of Sun

From the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved

And, my dear,

From the most insignificant movements

Of your own holy body.

Learn to recognize the conterfeit coins

That may buy you just a moment of pleasure,

But then rag you for days

Like a broken man

Behind a farting camel.

You are with the Friend now.

Learn what actions of yours delight Him,

What acions of yours bring freedom

And Love.

Whenever you say God's name, dear pilgrim,

My ears wish my head was missins

So they could finally kiss each other

And applaud all your nourishing wisdom!

O keep squeezing drops of the Sun

From your prayers and work and music

And from your companions' beautiful laughter

And from the most insignificant movements

Of your own holy body.

Now, sweet one,

Be wise.

Cast all your votes for Dancing! 

Someone Should Start Laughing

I have a thousand brilliant lies

For the question:

How are you?

I have a thousand brilliant lies

For the questions:

What is God?

If you think that the Truth can be known

From words,

If you think that the Sun and the Ocean

Can pass through that tiny opening

Called the mouth,

O someone should start laughing!

Someone should start wildly laughing -

Now! 

Skinning Your Knees on God

Little by little,

you will turn into stars.

Even then, my dear, you will be

A crawling infant,

Still skinning your knees on God.

Little by little,

you will turn into

The whole sweet, amorous universe

In heat

On a wild spring night,

And become so free

In a wonderful, secret

And pure Love

That flows

From a conscious,

One-pointed,

Infinite need for Light.

Even then, my dear,

The Beloved will have fulfilled

Just a fraction,

Just a fraction!

Of a promise

He wrote upon your heart.

When your soul begins

To Ever bloom and lasugh

And spin in Eternal Ecstacy -

O little by little

You will turn into God. 

If It Is Not Too Dark

Go for a walk, if it is not too dark.

Get some fresh air, try to smile.

Say something kind

To a safe-looking stranger, if one happens by.

Always exercise your heart's knowing.

You might as well attempt something real along this path:

Take your spouse or lover into your arms

The way you did when you first met.

Let tenderness pour from your eyes

The way ther sun gazes warmly on the earth.

Play a game with some children.

Extend yourself to a friend.

Sing a few ribald songs to your pets and plants -

Why not let them get drunk and wild!

Let's toast

Every rung we've climbed on Evolutions ladder.

Whisper, 'I love you!,' 'I love you!'

To the whole mad world.

Let's stop reading about God -

We will never understand Him.

Jump to your feet , wave your fists,

Threaten and warn the whole Universe

That your heart can no longer live

Without real love!