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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