Love Poems From God by Daniel Ladinsky

This is an amazing book overflowing with wisdom, love and compassion.  The subtitle is "Twelve Sacred Voices From the East and West".  To me, the poems were more of the author's interpretation than a literal translation, but they're still awesome. 

Sitting on my book shelf with hundreds of other books, it glows with light and is warm to the touch when I hold it in my hands. 

From the Preface:

"Hafiz sings, 'A poet is someone who can pour light into a cup, then raise it to nourish your beautiful, holy, parched mouth.'" page xii

"I hope a few of these poems will reach in deep enough to cure what separates us from each other, and from the beautiful.  I hope you fall into this wine barrel (this book) and crawl out legally drunk, and get arrested for doing something that makes God proud of you, like being too happy."  page xii

I'll share a few of my favorite poems, the ones that radiated light to me.  Enjoy! 

Blessings,

Marion

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DEAR GOD

Dear God, please reveal to us

your sublime

beauty

that is everywhere, everywhere, everywhere,

so that we will never again

feel frightened.

My divine love, my love,

please let us touch

your face.

St. Francis of Assisi, Page 56

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VULNERABLE

Vulnerable we are, like an infant.

We need each other's care

or we will

suffer.

St. Catherine of Siena, Page 185

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CLARITY IS FREEDOM

I had tea yesterday with a great theologian,

and he asked me,

"What is your experience of God's will?"

I liked that question---

for the distillation of thought hones thought in others.

Clarity, I know, is freedom.

What is my experience of God's will?

Everyone is a traveler.  Most all need lodging, food,

and clothes.

I let enter my mouth what will enrich me.  I wear what

will make my eyes content,

I sleep where I will

wake with the

strength to

deeply

love

all my mind can

hold.

What is God's will for a wing?

Every bird knows

that.

St. Teresa of Avila, Page 279

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THAT SKILL

A thorn has entered your foot.  That is why you

weep at times at

night.

There are some in this world

who can pull it

out.

The skill that takes they have

learned from

Him.

St. Catherine of Siena, page 190

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HOW DID THE ROSE?

How

did the rose

ever open its heart

and give to this world all of its beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light against its being,

otherwise we all remain

too frightened.

By Hafiz, Page 161

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HIS LIPS UPON THE VEIL

He has never left you.

It is just

that your soul is so vast

that just like

the earth in its innocence,

it may think,

"I do not feel my lover's warmth

against my face right

now."

But look, dear,

is not the sun reaching down its arms

and always holding a continent

in its light?

God cannot leave us.

It is just that our soul is so vast,

we do not always feel His lips

upon the

veil.

St. Catherine of Siena, Page 200

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Godlight radiating from my purple Morning Glorys.

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"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell." ~C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

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"The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too." ~Teresa of Avila

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