This is how love comes to us. There is what is and then there is something entirely different to startle us out of ourselves into a much larger way of being in the world. Sometimes it is with another person and sometimes it is with an event; sometimes it is welcome and sometimes it is not. Always, however, its origin is called from deep within our own hearts to awaken us and get our notice. It is all the energetics of love lifting us and propelling us forever onward with us each being an individual tiny portion composing a larger whole.
I am reading aloud, The Gift: Poems by Hafiz translated by Daniel Ladinsky to begin this season of readings. Hafiz was born in 1320 in Shiraz, Iran. I have added a small introduction to who this master poet is for a frame of reference in this audio file.
Thank you for listening.
Music: Flock of Seagulls, performing Space Age Love Song. There is no time in space and there is no time in love. It is art that attempts to reconcile the irreconcilable while speaking in a language only the heart can translate for us.
More of Hafiz' work translated by Ladinsky can be found here.
2022 Addendum To These Readings: I suppose I should have investigated this further regarding the authenticity of Daniel Ladinsky's translations of Hafiz when I began this series but I didn't. It has since come to my attention (though I could tell by the syntax and common sense that these poems are not authentic translations from the actual 5th century, Persian, poet Hafiz). I think I must be of a similar cut as Mr. Ladinsky because I'm not really caring that these translations are bastards of the actual texts. I'm of the opinion they are a powerful and clear strings of words with meaning and that is enough for me. If this matters to you, there is a case to be made in this article by Tim Mansfield in his Medium article, "You May Think You Love Hafiz". Knock yourself out. I sincerely do not mean to lead people astray.