Climbing Trees and Lightning-bugs

I kidnapped my Mom for a peaceful drive through the mountains to Felton where we had a lovely dinner at Cowboy Diner.
We stopped at Borders on the way home where I picked up a few gems.
I can never read too much Rumi or Hafiz in a sitting... much to feel, take in and process.

From The Subject Tonight Is Love: 60 Wild and Sweet Poems of Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky:

Forgiveness Is the Cash

Forgiveness
Is the cash you need.
All the other kinds of silver really buy
just strange things.
Everything has its music.
Everything has genes of God inside.
But learn from those courageous addicted lovers
Of glands and opium and gold -
Look,
They cannot jump high or laugh long
when they are whirling.
And the moon and the stars become sad
when their tender light is used for
night wars.
Forgiveness is part of the treasure you need
to craft your falcon wings
and return
to your true realm of
Divine freedom.


Because of Our Wisdom

In many parts of this world water is
scarce and precious.
People sometimes have to walk
a great distance
then carry heavy jugs upon their
heads.
Because of our wisdom, we will travel
far for love.
All movement is a sign of
thirst.
Most speaking really says,
"Iam hungry to know you."
Every desire of your body is holy;
Every desire of your body is
Holy.
Dear one,
Why wait until you are dying
to discover that divine
truth?

Absolutely Clear

Don't surrender your lonliness
so quickly.
Let it cut more deep.
Let it ferment and season you
as few humans
or even the divine ingrediants can.
Something missing in my heart tonight
has made my eyes so soft,
my voice
so tender,
My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.


From The Rumi Collection:

Search the Darkness

Sit with your friends; don't go back to sleep.
Don't sink like a fish to the bottom of the sea.
Surge like an ocean,
don't scatter yourself like a storm.
Life's waters flow from darkness.
Search the darkness, don't run from it.
Night travelers are full of light,
and you are, too; don't leave this companionship.
Be a wakeful candle in a golden dish,
don't slip into the dirt like quicksilver.
The moon appears for night travelers,
be watchful when the moon is full.
-Translated by Kabir Helminski

Intelligence and Tears

Till the cloud weeps, how should the garden smile?
The weeping of the cloud and the burning of the sun
are the pillars of this world: twist these two strands together.
Since the searing heat of the sun and the moisture of the clouds
keep the world fresh and sweet,
keep the sun of your intelligence burning bright
and your eyes glistning with tears.
-Translated by Kabir Helminski and Camille Helminski

Emptiness

Does anyone write something on a place
that has already been written over,
or plant a sapling where one already grows?
No; he seeks a blank piece of paper
and sows the seed where none has yet been sown.
Sister, be bare earth;
be a clean piece of paper untouched by writing,
that you may be ennobled by the ben of revelation.
so that the Gracious One may sow seed within you.
-Translated by Kabir Helminski and Camille Helminski

Sarah Brightman - Attesa