I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy

184 Pages·2006·15.64 MB·English

by  Hafez

God
Heard Laughing
I
Renderings ofHafiz
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by Daniel Ladinsky

Heard God Laughing
I
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Heard God Laughing
I
Renderings ofHafiz
by Daniel Ladinsky
*
Consulting Editor
Henry S. Mindlin

Hafiz
Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz 1320-1389),
(c.
though little known in the Western world, is the most
beloved poet ofPersia (Iran). To Persians, the poems of
Hafiz are not "classical literature" from a remote past, but
cherished wisdom from a dear and intimate friend. The
special gift ofthis friend is a poetry unique in world liter-
ature, a poetry that celebrates every expression oflove in
the universe.
The lyrics ofHafiz overflowwith a profound appre-
ciation ofthe beauty and richness oflife when seen through
the eyes of love. With unerring insight, he explores the
feelings and motives associated with every level oflove,
tracing each nuance ofemotion in depth and detail. Hi—s
poetry outlines the stages ofthe mystic's "path oflove"
that journey of inner unfolding in which love dissolves
personal boundaries and limitations tojoin larger processes
ofgrowth and transformation. Through these processes,
human love becomes divine love and the lover merges
ultimately with the source and goal of all love, which
Hafiz calls the Divine Beloved.
#
©
1996byDanielLadinsky
AllRightsReserved
InternationalStandardBookNumber:0-915828-18-9
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:96-67524
Firstprinting, 1996
Secondprinting, 1997
Thirdprinting,1999
PrintedintheUnited States ofAmerica
byMobius Press, Oakland, CA
CoverillustrationbyDianeCobb
BookdesignbySidneyDavenport
Sufism Reoriented
1300BoulevardWay
WalnutCreek, California94595
Contents
Releasing the Spirit ofHafiz xi
Poetic Conventions xvii
Now
YouAre with the Friend 1
A
Divine Invitation 3
You Don't Have to Act CrazyAnymore
We ShouldTalk aboutThis Problem 7
And Applaud 9
Manic Screaming 13
My
Brilliant Image 13
CastAllYour Votes for Dancing 15
Come to My House 19
What Happens 21
SomeoneWho Can Kiss God 23
WouldYouThinkIt Odd? 27
Someone CallsYour Name 29
TheJeweler 31
Saints Bowing in the Mountains 33
ExquisitelyWoven 35
The Moon Is Also Busy 37
WeAllSit in God's Classroom 39
For aWhile 41
Why
Carry? 41
Someone Should Start Laughing 43
A
Golden Compass 45
Zero 47
Circles 49
The Great Secret 51
Wayfarer 53
OfCourseThings LikeThat Can Happen 55
The Only One 63
EveryMovement 63
Saheb-e-Zaman 65
Set This Dry, BoringPlace on Fire! 67
How Does It Feel to Be a Heart? 69
IfItIs NotToo Dark 71
Awake Awhile 73
Dance, Dervish Dance 75
You Better Start KissingMe 77
A
Barroom ViewofLove 79
I KnowtheWayYou Can Get 81
Spill the Oil Lamp! 85
Am
I Determined 85
LetMeNearYou Tonight 87
That's theWhole Idea 89
KeepingWatch 91
You Left aThousandWomen Crazy 93
Something Invisible 95
A
Tethered Falcon 97
That Full, Fragrant Curl 99