Poem by Hafiz

In continuation with the theme of love this month, here is another beautiful poem by Hafiz. As my friend Matt wrote, "When I read a poem like this, I think of how much saccharine and cheap Hallmark sentimentality about love gets peddled in our society, and how badly we are at telling stories of love." I completely agree and am grateful we have access to the wisdom shared by masterful poets throughout history. I hope Hafiz's words continue to inspire an unleashing of creativity that warms you up from the inside out in this last month of winter. Om Shanti.

'We Have Not Come to Take Prisoners' 

We have not come here to take prisoners,
But to 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 of our house
And shout to our reason
"O please, O please,
Come out and play."

For we have not come here to take prisioners
Or to confine our wondrous spirits,

But to experience ever and ever more deeply
Our divine courage, freedom and light! 

~Hafiz