Sunday, January 13, 2008

Nothing leaves me the same


Hafiz - Ghazal 270

Ask not what sorrows for love I endure
Ask not of parting poisons that make me impure.
I have travelled the world and in the end
Ask not what lover I willingly allure.
Longing for a vision, at her door
Ask not of the tears that I pour.
With my own ears I heard her last night
Ask not of her words, harsh yet demure.
Bite not your upper lip and speak not
Ask not what sweet lips I may secure.
In my mendicant state without you
Ask not of my pain and need for a cure.
On the path of Love, Hafiz, lost & unsure
Ask not of his standing, high and pure.

4 comments:

V said...

Thanks for the introduction.
I'm not keen on Sufism. I tend to avoid Rumi et al.

V said...

"Every different kind of wine changes the outlook on life, and every change in life is like taking a different wine."
Hedonism?

Leila said...

I would venture.. that great Persian poetry is not necessarily defined by Sufism, as great English poetry is not defined per se by Christianity!

Sounds like hedonism to me.. I like it

V said...

Thanks! Poetry is sometimes better than life itself.
No thanks. I'm not into hedonism yet. I'm still struggling with my conditioning. I don't like using and hurting people.