I Heard God Laughing ~ Hāfez-e Šhīrāzī

 (Tomb of Hafez in Shiraz, Iran)

WHY CARRY?


Hafez,


Why carry a whole load of books


Upon your back


Climbing this mountain,


When tonight,


Just a few thoughts of God


Will light the holy fire.


_____________________________


ZERO


Zero


Is where the Real Fun starts.


There's too much counting


Everywhere else!
 
 
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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 the 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 Evolution's 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!
 
 
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I KNOW THE WAT YOU CAN GET


I know the way you can get


When you have not had a drink of Love:


Your face hardens,


Your sweet muscles cramp.


Children become concerned


About a strange look that appears in your eyes


Which even begins to worry your own mirror


And nose.


Squirrels and birds sense your sadness


And call an important conference in a tall tree.


They decide which secret code to chant


To help your mind and soul.


Even angels fear that brand of madness


That arrays itself against the world


And throws sharp stones and spears into


The innocent


And into one's self


Oh, I know the way you can get


If you have not been out drinking Love:


You might rip apart


Every sentence your friends and teachers say,


Looking for hidden clauses.


You might weigh every word on a scale


Like a dead fish.


You might pull out a ruler to measure


From every angle in your darkness


The beautiful dimensions of a heart you once


Trusted.


I know the way you can get


If you have not had a drink from Love's


Hands.


That is why all the Great Ones speak of


The vital need


To keep Remembering God,


So you will come to know and see Him


As being so Playful


And Wanting,


Just Wanting to help.


That is why Hafez says:


Bring your cup near me,


For I am a Sweet Old Vagabond


With an Infinite Leaking Barrel


Of Light and Laughter and Truth


That the Beloved has tied to my back.


Dear one,


Indeed, please bring your heart near me.


For all I care about


Is quenching your thirst for freedom!


All a Sane man can ever care about


Is giving Love!
 
 
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WHY JUST ASK THE DONKEY?


Why


Just ask the donkey in me


To speak to the donkey in you,


When I have so many other beautiful animals


And brilliant colored birds inside


That are all longing to say something wonderful


And exciting to your heart?


Let's open all the locked doors upon our eyes


That keep us from knowing the Intelligence


That begets love


And a more lively and satisfying conversation


With the Friend.


Let's turn loose our golden falcons


So that they can meet in the sky


Where our spirits belong -


Necking like two


Hot kids.


Let's hold hands and get drunk near the sun


And sing sweet songs to God


Until He joins us with a few notes


From His own sublime lute and drum.


If you have a better idea


Of how to pass a lonely night


After your glands may have performed


All their little magic


Then speak up sweethearts, speak up,


For Hafez and all the world will listen.


Why just bring your donkey to me


Asking for stale hay


And a boring conference with the idiot


In regards to this precious matter –


Such a precious matter as love,


When I have so many other divine animals


And brilliant colored birds inside


That are all longing


To so sweetly


Greet

You!
 
You carry all the ingredients



To turn your existence into joy,


Mix them, mix


Them!
 
 
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STOP BEING SO RELIGIOUS


What


Do sad people have in


Common?


It seems


They have all built a shrine


To the past


And often go there


And do a strange wail and


Worship.


What is the beginning of


Happiness?


It is to stop being


So religious


Like


That.
 
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THE GOD WHO ONLY KNOWS
FOUR WORDS


Every


Child


Has known God,


Not the God of names,


Not the God of don'ts,


Not the God who ever does


Anything weird,


But the God who only knows four words


And keeps repeating them, saying:


"Come dance with Me."

Come

Dance.

 

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ELEGANCE

It


Is not easy


To stop thinking ill


Of others.


Usually one must enter into a friendship


With a person


Who has accomplished that great feat himself


Then


Something


Might start to rub off on you


Of that


True


Elegance.
 
 
______________________________
 
 
 
Last night,

from the cypress branch,

the nightingale sang,

In Old Persian tones,

the lesson of spiritual stations.


_____________________________


~ Hāfez-e Šhīrāzī (14th Century)

(Translated By Daniel Ladinsky) 


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