like this

July 24, 2001

I am new in this club. I am a believer of God, of

life, of love I can say. I wanted to say hello with a

poem of Mevlana. I hope you enjoy it. If anyone

asks you how the perfect satisfaction of all our

sexual wanting will look, lift your face and

say, Like this. When someone mentions the

gracefulness of the nightsky, climb up on the roof and dance

and say, Like this. If anyone wants to

know what "spirit" is, or what "God’s fragrance"

means, lean your head toward him or her. Keep your face

there close. Like this. When someone

quotes the old poetic image about clouds gradually

uncovering the moon, slowly loosen knot by knot the

strings of your robe. Like this. If anyone

wonders how Jesus raised the dead, don’t try to

explain the miracle. Kiss me on the lips. Like

this. Like this. When someone asks what it

means to "die for love," point here. If someone

asks how tall I am, frown and measure with your

fingers the space between the creases on your

forehead. This tall. The soul sometimes leaves the body,

the returns. When someone doesn’t believe

that, walk back into my house. Like this. When

lovers moan, they’re telling our story. Like

this. I am a sky where spirits live. Stare into this

deepening blue, while the breeze says a

secret. Like this. When someone asks what there is to

do, light the candle in his hand. Like

this. How did Joseph’s scent come to

Jacob? Huuuuu. How did Jacob’s sight

return? Huuuu. A

little wind cleans the eyes. Like

this. When Shams comes back from Tabriz, he’ll put just

his head around the edge of the door to surprise

us Like this. From ‘The Essential

Rumi’, Translations by Coleman Barks with John Moyne

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