Poems that I love

by Hafiz One day the sun admitted, “I am just a shadow. I wish I could show you The infinite Incandescence That had cast my brilliant image!” “I wish I could show you, When you are lonely or in darkness, The Astonishing Light Of your own Being!” For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi..

by Jelalludin Rumi A sweet voice calls out, "The caravan from Egypt is here!" A hundred camels with what amazing treasure! Midnight, a candle and someone quietly waking me, "Your friend has come." I spring out of my body, put a ladder to the roof, and climb up to see if it's true. Suddenly, there is a world within this world! An ocean inside the water jar! A king sitting with me wearing the uniform of a servant! A garden in the chest of the gardener! I see how love has "thoughts," and that these thoughts are circulating in conversation with majesty. Let me keep opening this moment like a dead body reviving. Shamsi Tabriz saw the placeless one and from That, made a place. (Ghazal 2730, Version by Coleman Barks) For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi..

by Jellaludin Rumi Be helpless and dumbfounded, unable to say yes or no. Then a stretcher will come from grace to gather us up. We are too dulleyed to see the beauty. If we say "Yes we can," we'll be lying. If we say "No, we don't see it," that "No" will behead us and shut tight our window into spirit. So let us not be sure of anything, besides ourselves, and only that, so miraculous beings come running to help. Crazed, lying in a zero-circle, mute, we will be saying finally, with tremendous eloquence, "Lead us." When we've totally surrendered to that beauty, we'll become a mighty kindness. (Mathnawi IV, 3748-3754, translated by Coleman Barks) For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi..

by Hafiz We have not come here to take prisoners, But to surrender ever more deeply To freedom and joy. We have not come into this exquisite world To hold ourselves hostage from love. Run my dear, From anything That may not strengthen Your precious budding wings. Run like hell my dear, From anyone likely To put a sharp knife Into the sacred, tender vision Of your beautiful heart. We have a duty to befriend Those aspects of obedience That stand outside of our house And shout to our reason "O please, O please, Come out and play." For we have not come here to take prisoners Or to confine our wondrous spirits, But to experience ever and ever more deeply Our divine courage, freedom and Light! from "The Gift ~ versions of Hafiz" by Daniel Ladinsky For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi..

by Jelalludin Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. Coleman Barks trans. For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi..

by Hafiz For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi.. This is not a courtroom anymore! The time of judging who's drunk or sober, who's right or wrong, who's closer to God or farther away, all that's over. This caravan is led instead by a great Delight, the simple joy that sits with us now, that is the grace. Hafiz, it may be that you've just poured a toast that will wash love clean of all it's pictures.

by Jelalludin Rumi Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. Come, even if you've broken your vow a thousand times. Come, yet again, come. Coleman Barks trans. For more poems by Hafiz and Rumi..