STAY CLOSE TO THOSE SOUNDS

The sun turns a key in a lock each day
As soon as it crawls out of bed.

Light swings open a door
And the many kinds of love rush out
Onto the infinite green field.

Your soul sometimes plays a note
Against the Sky's ear that excites
The birds and planets.

Stay close to any sounds
That make you glad you are alive.

Everything in this world is
Helplessly reeling.

An invisible wake was created
When God said to His beautiful dead lover,
"Be."

Hafiz, who will understand you
If you do not explain that last line?
Well then,

I will sing it this way,

When God said to illusion,
"Be."

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

Previous Hafiz Poem | Index of Hafiz Poems | Next Hafiz Poem