this past weekend i got to read a book someone had, called �the gift� by Hafiz, a sufi mystic poet who lived in persia in the 14th century (a little over a century after Rumi)...

i fell in love with his poetry... and this one in particular so moved me that i copied it out into my sketchbook:



WE HAVE NOT COME HERE TO TAKE PRISONERS



We have not come here to take prisoners,

But surrender ever more deeply

To freedom and joy



We have not come into this exquisite world

To hold ourselves hostage from love.



Run my dear,

From anything

That may not strengthen

Your precious budding wings.



Run like hell my dear,

From anyone likely

To put a sharp knife

Into the sacred, tender vision

Of your beautiful heart.



We have a duty to befriend

Those aspects of obedience

That stand outside our house

And shout out to our reason

"O please, O please

Come out and play."



For we have not come here to take prisoners

Or to confine our wondrous spirits,



But to experience ever and ever more deeply

Our divine courage, freedom, and light!

~

today was very difficult. but tears flowed and the storm passed on into smiles... i feel much, much better now.

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