Cast All Your Votes For Dancing
I know the voice of depression
Still calls to you.
I know those habits that can ruin your life
Still send their invitations.
But you are with the Friend now
And look so much stronger.
You can stay that way
And even bloom!
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions’ beautiful laughter.
Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved
And, my dear,
From the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.
Learn to recognize the counterfeit coins
That may buy you just a moment of pleasure,
But then drag you for days
Like a broken man
Behind a farting camel.
You are with the Friend now.
Learn what actions of yours delight Him,
What actions of yours bring freedom
And Love.
Whenever you say God’s name, dear pilgrim,
My ears wish my head was missing
So they could finally kiss each other
And applaud all your nourishing wisdom!
O keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions’ beautiful laughter
And from the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.
Now, sweet one,
Be wise.
Cast all your votes for Dancing!
Hafiz translated by Daniel Ladinsky
[http://www.amazon.com/Heard-God-Laughing-Poems-Hope/dp/0143037811/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319239911&sr=8-1-]
[PHOTO by Morten Rask released into public domain. Wikimedia Commons]
HEARTS ON FIRE 
This is a beautiful piece. The “farting camel” part cracked me up. mostly because it is so true (although I have only been behind a farting horse). 🙂
Yeah mystic Monday! I read a story once about a Christian minister visting a Buddhist monastery. The minister said to a monk, “But you have no theology!”
The Buddhist monk replied “We dance!”
A farting camel is a disturbing thought: ) Definitely not a good way to go through life, behind a farting camel. But if you tried to lead the camel, I’m told they spit. Only recently learned they can run as fast as a horse. Who knew?