Ghazal 2309

...
I went out of my house
a "drunkard" came to me
someone whose glance
uncovered a hundred
houses in Paradise!


Rocking and rolling
He was a sail
with no anchor but
He was the envy of all those "sober" ones
remaining on the shore.


Where are you from I asked
He smiled in mockery and said
one half from the east
one half from the west
one half made of water and earth
one half made of heart and soul
one half staying at the shores and
one half nesting in a pearl.


I begged
take me as your friend
I am your next of kin
He said I recognize no kin
among strangers.

I left my belongings and
entered this tavern
I only have a chest
full of words
but can't utter
a single one.

Rumi

Ghazal 838

If you pass your night
and merge it with dawn
for the sake of heart
what do you think will happen?

If the entire world
is covered with the blossoms
you have labored to plant
what do you think will happen?

If the elixir of life
that has been hidden in the dark
fills the desert and towns
what do you think will happen?

If because of
your generosity and love
a few humans find their lives
what do you think will happen?

If you pour an entire jar
filled with joyous wine
on the head of those already drunk
what do you think will happen?

Go my friend
bestow your love
even on your enemies
if you touch their hearts
what do you think will happen?

Rumi

The one who has not had a taste of love
Is but a piece of wood or stone to God.
Love extracts water from stones;
Love removes rust from mirrors.
infidelity seeks war, faith peace;
Love sets fire to war and peace alike.
Love opens its mouth in the sea of the heart;
It devours the two worlds like a whale.
Like a lion, love knows no ruse;
It does not change from a lion to a fox.

from Divan, Rumi

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
Have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed
never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
You will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands
One for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

Audrey Hepburn

This is a gathering of Lovers.
In this gathering there is no high, no low,
no smart, no ignorant,no special assembly,
no grand discourse, no proper schooling required.

There is no master,no disciple.
This gathering is more like a drunken party,
full of tricksters, fools,
mad men and mad women.
This is a gathering of Lovers.

Rumi

Your love lifts my soul from the body to the sky
And you lift me up out of the two worlds.

I want your sun to reach my raindrops,
So your heat can raise my soul upward like a cloud.

Rumi

When the sweet glance of my true love caught my eyes
Like alchemy, it transformed my copper-like soul.

I searched for Him with a thousand hands,
He stretched out His arms and clutched my feet.

Rumi

I have become my own version of an optimist.
If I can't make it through one door I'll go through another door
...or I'll make a door.

Tagore

Have courage.
Be capable of loving.
Be happy in love.
Be joyful in victory.
Follow the dictates of your heart.

P. Coelho

With Passion

With passion pray.
With passion work.
With passion make love.

With passion eat and drink and dance and play.

Why look like a dead fish
in this ocean of God?

Rumi