The Gift: Poems Inspired by Hafiz, the Great Sufi MasterDaniel Ladinsky’s 250 unforgettable lyrical poems are inspired by the cherished verse of Hafiz, one of the greatest Sufi poets of all time. More than any other Persian poet, Hafiz expanded the mystical, healing dimensions of poetry. Because his poems were often ecstatic love songs from God to his beloved world, many have called Hafiz the “Invisible Tongue.” Daniel Ladinsky’s poems are not translations in a literal sense. Rather than capture the form of a particular classical work, Ladinsky crafts poems that release the spirit of Hafiz based on his study of stories and poems attributed to the revered Persian writer. The Gift imparts the wonderful qualities of this master Sufi poet and spiritual teacher: encouragement, an audacious love that touches lives, profound knowledge, generosity, and a sweet, playful genius unparalleled in world literature. |
Contents
Preface | 1 |
The Life and Work of Hafız | 7 |
One STARTLED BY | 21 |
Looking for Good Fish 24 A Hunting Party 26 This Sane | 31 |
Have Learned So Much 32 God Just Came Near 33 | 42 |
Removing the Shoe from the Temple 43 Against My | 52 |
Hold the Lions Paw 57 If the Falling of a Hoof 59 What | 66 |
Dont Die Again 71 Like a LifeGiving Sun 73 The Great | 76 |
Counting Moles 162 Hafız 163 The Body a Tree 164 | 172 |
What Happens to the Guest 178 I Want Both of Us 180 Like | 182 |
FOR YOUR HEAD | 183 |
The Bag Lady 185 The Ambience of Love 186 Tired | 189 |
Our Hearts Should Do This More 191 Turn Left a Thousand | 198 |
Why Arent We Screaming Drunks? 205 Dropping | 208 |
Say to a Poem 214 The Suburbs 215 | 221 |
In Need of the Breath 225 The Hearts Coronation 227 | 235 |
The Vintage Man 77 Everywhere 78 Lifts beyond | 82 |
The Gift 83 Laughing at the Word Two 84 Life Starts | 94 |
What Do White Birds Say 97 How Do I Listen? 99 The Earth | 110 |
Get the Blame Straight 111 Rewards for Clear Thinking | 113 |
That Regal Coat 118 Stop Being So Religious 119 Friends | 122 |
The Prettiest Mule 127 Today 128 Wise Men Keep Talking | 135 |
Tiny Gods 140 This Union 142 When You Can Endure | 143 |
This Talking Rag 144 Who Will Feed My Cat? 145 Burglars | 149 |
The Clay Bowls Destiny 157 I Hope You Wont Sue This | 160 |
When the Sun Conceived a Man 236 A Mime 239 The Quintessence | 248 |
Lousy at Math 250 The Sun in Drag 252 Between | 260 |
Cupping My Hands Like a Mountain Valley 261 Why Not | 269 |
The God Who Only Knows Four Words 270 You Were Brave | 276 |
My Eyes So Soft 277 The Diamond Takes Shape 278 That | 282 |
Stay with Us 284 I Am Full of Love Tonight 286 Many Lives | 294 |
A Clever Piece of Mutton 297 Who Can Hear the Buddha | 301 |
In a Circus Booth 306 Maybe Even Lucrative 307 Troubled | 308 |
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Common terms and phrases
ALLAH angel beautiful become Beloved Beloved's beneath birds body brilliant called camel cheek compassion creature dance Daniel Ladinsky dear dervish divine drum drunk dulcimer earth ecstatic everything eyes feet fish flute forty Friend gave my heart ghazal gift give God's golden hands happens hear heart holy Human voices infinite inside jewel keep kiss laugh lift light Listen live Look lover luminous lute magnificent Mashuq Meher Baba Milarepa mind moon mouth Muhammad Attar never once Perfect Master Persian planets play Poems of Hafiz poet poetry precious prince Quran rain Ralph Waldo Emerson reveal Rumi sacred scents secret Shiraz sing slave someday someone sometimes song soul sounds speak spiritual sublime Sufi Sufism surrender swaying arms sweet talk Tambourine Tavern teacher tender thousand tongue touch translations truth turn verse Wayfarer weep whirl wine wings wonderful words Yasamin