Dance, when you're broken open.

Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.

Dance in the middle of fighting.

Dance in your blood.

Dance, when you're perfectly free.

Struck, the dancers hear the tambourine inside them,

as a wave turns the foam on its very top, begin.

Maybe you don't hear that tambourine,

all the tree leaves clapping time.

Close the ears on your head that listen mostly to lies

and cynical jokes. 

There are other things to hear and see: 

dance, music and a brilliant city inside the soul.

Rumi

The way of love is not a subtle argument
The door there is devastation.
Birds make great sky circles of their freedom
how do they learn it?
They fall
and falling
    they are given wings.

–Rumi

IF YOU CAN'T GO TO SLEEP

My dear soul
for tonight
what do you think will happen

if you pass your night
and merge it with dawn
for the sake of heart
what do you think will happen

if the entire world
is covered with the blossoms
you have labored to plant
what do think will happen

if the elixir of life
that has been hidden in the dark
fills the desert and towns
what do you think will happen

if because of
your generosity and love
a few humans find their lives
what do you think will happen

if you pour an entire jar
filled with joyous wine
on the head of those already drunk
what do you think happen

go my friend
bestow your love
even on  your enemies
if you touch their hearts
what do you think will happen

Rumi

O keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions' beautiful laughter

And from the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.

Now, sweet one,
Be wise.
Cast all your votes for Dancing!

Hafiz

The world dances around the Sun.
The morning light breaks,  spinning with delight.
How could anyone touched by love
not dance like a weeping willow.

-Rumi

Now Is The Time

Now is the time to know
That all that you do is sacred.

Now, why not consider
A lasting truce with yourself and God.

Now is the time to understand
That all your ideas of right and wrong
Were just a child's training wheels
To be laid aside
When you finally live
With veracity
And love.

Hafiz is a divine envoy
Whom the Beloved
Has written a holy message upon.

My dear, please tell me,
Why do you still
Throw sticks at your heart
And God?

What is it in that sweet voice inside
That incites you to fear?

Now is the time for the world to know
That every thought and action is sacred.

This is the time for you to compute the impossibility
That there is anything
But Grace.

Now is the season to know
That everything you do
Is sacred.

(translated by Daniel Ladinsky)

Hafiz

"Don't go outside your house to seek flowers.
My friend, don't bother with that excursion.
Inside your body there are flowers.
One flower has a thousand petals.
Centered there you will have a glimpse of Splendor
Inside the body and without;
Before and after gardens."
  

Kabir

Tripping Over Joy

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?
The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God
And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move
That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”
Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.

Hafiz

Strange Miracle

  O wondrous creatures,
By what strange miracle
      Do you so often
          Not smile?

Hafiz