A HUNTING PARTY

A

Hunting party

Sometimes has a greater chance

Of flushing love and God

Out into the open

Than a warrior

All

Alone.

( The Gift versions by Daniel Ladinsky)

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A ROOT IN EACH ACT AND CREATURE

The sun's eyes are painting fields again.
It lashes with expert strokes
Are sweeping across the land.

A great palette of light has embraced
This earth.

Hafiz, if just a little clay and water
Mixed in His bowl
Can yield such exquisite scents, sights,
Music - and whirling forms -

What unspeakable wonders must await with
The commencement of unfolding
Of the infinite number of petals
That are the Soul.

What excitement will renew your body
When we all begin to see
That His heart resides in Everything?

God has a root in each act and creature
That He draws His mysterious
Divine life from.

His eyes are painting fields again.

The Beloved with His own hands is tending,
Raising like a precious child,
Himself in You.

("The Gift" - vers by D. Ladinsky)

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Beautiful Hands

This is the kind of Friend
You are -

Without making me realize

My soul's anguished history,

You slip into my house at night,

And while I am sleeping,

You silently carry off

All my suffering and sordid past

In Your beautiful
Hands.

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

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Because of Our Wisdom

In many parts of the 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,
"I am 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?

("The Subj... is Love" D. Ladin..)

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BETWEEN OUR POLES

Who
Can I tell
The secrets of love?

Who has not confined their life
To a padded cell?

Look at
The nature of a river.
Its size, strength, and ability to give
Are often gauged by its width
And current.

God
Too moves between our poles, our depth.
He flows and gathers power between
Our heart s range of
Forgiveness and
Compassion.

Who
Can I tell,
Who can Hafiz tell tonight
All the secrets of
Love?

("The Gift" - versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)