[Hafiz] Out of the Mouths of a Thousand Birds

[Guest guest]

- Joseph Riley

Hafiz

Out of the Mouths of a Thousand Birds

Listen -Listen more carefully to what is around youRight now.

In my worldThere are the bells from the clanksOf the morning milk drums,

And a wagon wheel outside my windowJust hit a bump

Which turned into an ecstatic chorusOf the Beloved's Name.

There is the Prayer CallRising up like the sunOut of the mouths of a thousand birds.

There is an astonishing vastnessOf movement and Life

Emanating sound and lightFrom my folded hands

And my even quieter simple being and heart.

My dear,Is it true that your mindIs sometimes like a batteringRam

Running all through the city,Shouting so madly inside and out

About the ten thousand thingsThat do not matter?

Hafiz, too,For many years beat his head in youth

And thought himself at a great distance,Far from an armisticeWith God.

But that is why this scarred old pilgrimHas now become such a sweet

rare vintageWho weeps and sings for you.

O listen -Listen more carefullyTo what is inside of you right now.

In my worldAll that remains is the wondrous call toDance and prayer

Rising up like a thousand sunsOut of the mouth of aSingle bird.

("The Subject Tonight is Love" -- versions of Hafiz by Daniel

Ladinsky; original presentation by David Williamson)

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