New Drawing & Hafiz

My heart is an unset jewel
Upon the tender night
Yearing for its dear old friend, the Moon.

When the Nameless One debuts again
Ten thousands facets of my being unfurl wings
And reveal such a radiance inside
I enter a realm divine--
I too begin to so sweetly cast light,
Like a lamp through the streets of this World.

My heart is an unset jewel
Upon existence
Waiting for the Friend's touch.

Tonight
My heart is an unset ruby
Offered bowed and weeping to the Sky.

I am dying in these cold hours
For the resplendent glance of God.

I am dying because of divine remembrance
of who I really am.

Hafiz, tonight your soul is
a brilliant reed instrument
in need of the breath
of the Christ.

-Hafiz

Things to SEE

God blossoms from the shoulder of the elephant

who becomes courteous to the ant.

-Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinksy


Photos - Courtesy of family friend and blog follower, Paul Baylink.

Hafiz & Kitchen Memories

Slipping

On my shoes,

Boiling water,

Toasting bread,

Buttering the sky;

That should be enough contact

With God in one day

To make anyone

Crazy.

-Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky

Artwork - Gouache and pen, 2000. Inspired by a drawing exercise by Natalie Goldberg.
My childhood kitchen - a happy place. I remember sneaking in to steal bites of butter or brown sugar when no one was around. I remember dropping a giant, full jar of apple juice on the floor and my mom didn't get angry with me. I remember the sound of the screen door...the way it slammed shut as we went in and out. I remember the phone on the wall and when I could finally reach it and call my friend, Abby. I remember my mom grinding her own flour and making us pancakes, served with chokecherry syrup that she made with the berries that grew outside in the back yard. Sweet memories.

New Felt & Hafiz

I think we

are frightened

every

moment

of our lives

until

we

know

Him.

-Hafiz