Smitten with a Poet

In the course of my research for Long Winding Journeys, I've been reading the poetry of Hafiz, the most famous of the Persian poets.  He lived from about 1320-1382, roughly the same time as Chaucer.  I happened to have a book of his poems in my stash, though I hadn't had the occasion to read very much of it.  Now I have, and I'm smitten.  Here are a few poems that struck a chord with me.  I'll start with the one I plan to share at docent training, a poem I can easily imagine would inspire an artist.

THE VINTAGE MAN

The

Difference 

Between a good artist

And a great one

Is:

The voice

Will often lay down his tool

Or brush

Then pick up an invisible club

On the mind's table

And helplessly smash the easels and

Jade.

Whereas the vintage man

No longer hurts himself or anyone

And keeps on

Sculpting

Light.

======================

THE SAD GAME

Blame

Keeps the sad game going.

It keeps stealing all your wealth --

Giving it to an imbecile with

No financial skills.

Dear one,

Wise

Up.

====================

IT FELT LOVE

How

Did the rose

Ever open its heart

And give to this world

All its 

Beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light

Against its

Being,

Otherwise,

We all remain

Too

Frightened

==================

A CLEVER PIECE OF MUTTON

Like a 

Clever piece of mutton

Refusing to go down the "well"

Knowing it will so quickly just come out

The "other end"

So it lodges itself between one's teeth --

That's the kind of poem Hafiz

Wants to sing

Today.

=====================

Thanks for reading and until next time, be well.