THE HEART IS RIGHT

The Heart is right to cry
Even when the smallest drop of light,
Of love,
Is taken away.

Perhaps you may kick, moan, scream
In a dignified
Silence,

But you are so right
To do so in any fashion

Until God returns
To
You.

Hafiz

All your images of winter
I see against your sky.

I understand the wounds
That have not healed in you.

They exist
Because God and love
Have yet to become real enough

To allow you to forgive
The dream.

HAFIZ

WIND THAT TASTES OF BREAD AND SALT

There's no more wine; my bowl is broken;
I am terribly sick, and only Shams can cure me.

Do you know Shams, the prince of seeing,
who lifts the utterly drowned up out of the ocean
and revives them, so that the shore looks like
multiple marriages are going on at once,
easy laughing here, a formal toast,
a procession with music.

Shams is a trumpet note of light
that starts the atoms spinning,
a wind that comes at dawn tasting of bread and salt.

Move to the edge and over. Fly with the wings
he gives, and if you get tired, lie down,
but keep opening inside your soul.
RUMI

"By the sea, by the sea
by the beautiful sea . . ."

The Friend comes into my body
looking for the center, unable
to find it, draws a blade,
strikes anywhere.

RUMI

My dusty old new piano. To be rebuilt.

THE MUSIC

For sixty years I have been forgetful,
every moment, but not for a second
has this flowing toward me slowed or stopped.
I deserve nothing. Today I recognize
that I am the guest the mystics talk about.
I play this living music for my host.
Everything today is for the host.
RUMI

HARSH EVIDENCE

What sort of person says that he or she wants
to be polished and pure, then complains
about being handled roughly?

Love is a lawsuit where harsh evidence
must be brought in. To settle the case,
the judge must see evidence.

You've heard that every buried treasure
has a snake guarding it.
Kiss the snake to discover the treasure!

Don't run from those who scold,
and don't turn away from cleansing conflict,
or you will remain weak.
RUMI