Poem by Hafiz.
Read by Donna Goddard.
At Warrandyte River, Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia.
Translation by Daniel Ladinsky.
Not With Wings – Hafiz
Vicious – poem
The inspiration for this poem came, a few days ago, after watching The Bookshop. I was reminded of how vicious people can be when they feel that someone is stopping them from getting something they want. Florence “had a kind heart, though that is not of much use when it comes to the matter of self-preservation.” Indeed, her kind heart seemed to be of no use at all when faced with Mrs. Gamart who was as vicious as she was manipulative and powerful. Eventually, courage wins the day, although, not in the way that was first hoped.
Play your cards.
Leave no trace.
Pick a time.
Pick a place.
Keep your fire
smouldering low
until you strike
a cruel blow.
Guide the gullible.
Keep them blind.
Trick the trusting.
Destroy the kind.
Vicious, vicious.
You cannot win.
For life supports not
the treachery within.
Courage, courage.
Get up, get up.
I will help you.
Drink from the grace-cup.
Muddled mind,
the waters will clear.
And you will see
the savage dears.
Kind, kind.
Do not despair.
I hear and heed
your caring prayer.
Surrender – poem
I surrender all to you.
I surrender my life to you.
I will do whatever you want.
I will go wherever you want.
I will love whoever you ask me to love.
I will give up all my stupid opinions.
I will give up all my hopeless cravings.
I release my broken dreams.
I forfeit my planned futures.
I am at your mercy.
I will think no thought
or proceed with any action
which does not come from you
because You love me.
Strange Words – poem
There you are.
Standing right here.
I miss you.
Standing here,
talking strange words.
I miss you.
Strange words,
telling me plans.
I miss you.
You speak of dreams
and dream of things
that go a million ways.
There you are.
But where is you?
The you, I know you are.
There you are.
Standing right here.
Talking strange words.
I miss you.
Strange words,
telling me plans.
You speak of dreams
and dream of things
that go a million ways.
There you are.
But where is you?
The you, I know you are.
The other you,
the different one.
The one that makes two ONE.
Today, I Will Be Happy – poem
Today, I will be happy.
Today, I will look up.
I will see the sunshine, the rain, the sky.
Vast. Giving. Forgiving.
Today, I will be happy.
Today, I will see.
I will see you. You who changes clothes, changes colour,
changes history, and changes destiny.
Today, I will be happy.
Today, I will remember the hurt and forget the pain.
Those long-loved; loved still.
Those now-loved; we’re blessed.
Today, I will be happy.
Maybe, I wasn’t happy yesterday.
Maybe, I won’t be happy tomorrow.
But today, today, I will be happy.
The Idol Maker – poem
I do not know who
is the maker of the idol
but there it was, alive and well,
this thing I so desired.
A little time, a little more,
the idol was not so sweet.
It showed its wear, its shine was dull,
this thing I so admired.
The idol which deceives
is an idol weaving dreams.
It surely will delay
the coming of the day.
Fall, it must,
for an idol is a lie.
The treasure it would seek
becomes the wind-borne dust.
Fear not its death; a troubled tear,
a sleepless night, the idol breaks apart.
But in the morning, clean and white,
the idol leaves no mark.
The Space Between Us – poem
Mind the space, so long endured,
it’s best for our protection.
I hope it’s true, for if it’s not
a thousand loves have I betrayed.
Look closer, dear,
a voice it sings as if it was a lullaby.
But if I heed it may become
the lure of my demise.
In fear, we come together
seeking a place of refuge.
In fear, we keep the space
lest our refuge become our captor.
The moments of sweetness
so easily discarded
when danger calls from
the abyss between the two.
Do not push away love’s hand
in punishment for what it cannot give.
Together, we bypass the gap
which is as deep as it is old.
Forget the chasm
so jaded with angry dreams.
Our fear is empty-handed.
Love’s hand has room for the other.
