Poetry from Hafiz

Yesterday was a very busy day that was occasionally interrupted by light hearted emails from a friend. They brought smiles to my face as I tried to reply with my own humor. After a tough day of trying to be an adult, I finally headed home. When I got outdoors I discovered a beautiful day. As I walked into the sunshine I realized that I had only left my work area once for a short meeting and that I hadn't been outside all day. The sky was blue, it was warm but not hot, and there was no humidity. This is as good as it gets in a Kentucky summer. I found myself hoping the weather would also be this nice in a week or so when I make my first rock and roll road trip of the summer. Technically it is still spring but in four days the summer solstice will arrive and summer will be here. When I left work I was very tired but still I looked forward to the evening. I headed for the day care to surprise my granddaughter, Chloe. She did not know I would be picking her up. I knew what little energy I had would soon disappear once she insisted on Pa Paw playing with her. Her eyes sparkled when I arrived in her designated room. We gathered her things and headed for the car where Grandma awaited us. After we got to my house we ate Lucky Charms and toast. We played on the floor and she jumped all over me. She likes for me to sit down. Then she grabs my hands and literally repels up my body until she is standing on the top of my head. It's quite a balancing act to keep her footing on the bald and occasionally slick surface of my skull. Can Mount Everest be far behind? Finally, we went for a walk through my neighborhood. It would be more accurate to say I walked. Chloe rode on my shoulders like the Queen of Sheba surveying her kingdom. After Dad came and picked her up, I collapsed in my chair and took a nap.

A while back a dear friend named Katie sent me some poetry books. One of them introduced me to a Persian poet named Hafiz who lived from 1320-1389. I really like his stuff so I want to share a couple of them.

This once is called "Tripping Over Joy".

What is the difference between your experience of existence and that of a saint?The saint knows that the spiritual path is a sublime chess game with God,and that the Beloved has just made such a fantastic move that the saint is continually tripping over joy and bursting out in laughter, saying "I surrender"!Whereas, my dear, I am afraid you still think you have a thousand serious moves.

This one is called "Silence".

A day of silence can be a pilgrimage in itself.A day of silence can help you listen to the soul play it's marvelous lute and drum.Is not most talking a crazed defense of a crumbling fort?I thought we came here to surrender in silence, to yield to light and happiness,to dance within in celebration of love's victory!