Hafiz: Not With Wings

Not With Wings

Here soar

Not with wings,

But with your moving hands and feet

And sweating brows -

Standing by your Beloved's side

Reaching out to comfort this world

With your cup of solace

Drawn from your vast reservoir of Truth.

Here soar

Not with your eyes and senses

That turn their backs

On the earth's sweet stumbling dance

Which needs you.

Here love, O here love,

With your mouth tender and open upon your lover,

And with your heart on duty

To the souls of rivers, children, forest animals,

All the shy feathered ones and laughing, jumping,

Shining fish.

O here, pilgrim,

Love

On this holy battleground of life

Where there are bleeding men

Who are calling for a sacred drink,

A gentle word or touch from man

or God.

Hafiz, why just serve and play with angels?

They are already content.

Brew your knowledge well for men

With aching minds and guts,

And for those wayfarers who have gained

The rare courageous thirsts

That can never be relinquished

Until Union!

Hafiz,Leave your recipes in golden drums.

Tie those barrels to the backs of camels

Who will keep circumambulating the worlds,

Giving nourishment

To all our tender wondrous spheres.

O here love, O love right here.

Find your happiness, dear wayfarer,

With your beautiful lips and body

So sweetly opened,

Yielding their vital gifts upon

This magnificent

Earth.

~ Hafiz ~

(The Subject Tonight is Love - versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)


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