Home > Work > I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy
1 " A day of silence can be a pilgrimage in itself. "
― Hafez , I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy
2 " Come in, my dearFrom that harsh worldThat has rained elements of stoneUpon your tender face.Every soulShould receive a toast from usFor bravery! "
3 " You don’t have to act crazy anymore—We all know you were good at that,Now retire, my dear,From all that hard work you doOf bringing pain to your sweet eyes and heart.Look in a clear mountain mirrorSee the beautiful ancient warriorAnd the divine elements You always carry insideThat infused this universe with sacred lifeSo long ago "
4 " TRIPPING OVER JOYWhat is the differenceBetween your experience of ExistenceAnd that of a saint?The saint knowsThat the spiritual pathIs a sublime chess game with GodAnd that the BelovedHas just made such a Fantastic MoveThat the saint is now continuallyTripping over JoyAnd bursting out in LaughterAnd saying, “I Surrender!”Whereas, my dear,I am afraid you still thinkYou have a thousand serious moves. "
5 " I am happy even before I have a reason. I am full of Light even before the sky Can greet the sun or the moon. Dear companions, We have been in love with God For so very, very long. "
6 " A day of Silence Can be a pilgrimage in itself. A day of Silence Can help you listen To the Soul play Its marvelous lute and drum. Is not most talking A crazed defense of a crumbling fort?I thought we came here To surrender in Silence, To yield to Light and Happiness, To Dance within, In celebration of Love's Victory "
7 " The moon is most happy When it is full. And the sun always looks Like a perfectly minted gold coin That was just Polished And placed in flight By God’s playful Kiss. And so many varieties of fruit Hang plump and round From branches that seem like a Sculptor’s hands. I see the beautiful curve of a pregnant belly Shaped by a soul within, "
8 " If It Is Not Too Dark Go for a walk, if it is not too dark. Get some fresh air, try to smile. Say something kind To a safe-looking stranger, if one happens by. Always exercise your heart’s knowing. You might as well attempt something real Along this path: Take your spouse or lover into your arms The way you did when you first met. Let tenderness pour from your eyes The way the Sun gazes warmly on the earth. Play a game with some children. Extend yourself to a friend. Sing a few ribald songs to your pets and plants—Why not let them get drunk and wild! Let’s toast Every rung we’ve climbed on Evolution’s ladder. Whisper, “I love you! I love you!” To the whole mad world. Let’s stop reading about God—We will never understand Him. Jump to your feet, wave your fists, Threaten and warn the whole Universe That your heart can no longer live Without real love! "
9 " Start seeing everything as God, But keep it a secret. "
10 " I have fallen in love with Someone Who hides inside you. We should talk about this problem—Otherwise, I will never leave you alone. "
11 " Would You Think It Odd? Would you think it odd if Hafiz said, “I am in love with every church And mosque And temple And any kind of shrine Because I know it is there That people say the different names Of the One God.” Would you tell your friends I was a bit strange if I admitted I am indeed in love with every mind And heart and body. O I am sincerely Plumb crazy About your every thought and yearning And limb Because, my dear, I know That it is through these That you search for Him. "
12 " Hafiz tells us that Love’s Journey unfolds through every process of life. Divine principles are constantly being demonstrated all around us. We cannot learn them through words or books or limited systems of human values. Hafiz says God is fully known only through love, which accepts everything. Love reveals the Universe as a cosmic playground where every thing and being participates in a single, magnificent Game. "
13 " Why Carry? Hafiz, Why carry a whole load of books Upon your back Climbing this mountain, When tonight, Just a few thoughts of God Will light the holy fire. "
14 " Someone Should Start Laughing I have a thousand brilliant lies For the question: How are you? I have a thousand brilliant lies For the question: What is God? If you think that the Truth can be known From words, If you think that the Sun and the Ocean Can pass through that tiny opening Called the mouth, O someone should start laughing! Someone should start wildly Laughing—Now! "
15 " The Great Secret God was full of Wine last night, So full of Wine That He let a great secret slip. He said: There is no man on this earth Who needs a pardon from Me— For there is really no such thing, No such thing As Sin! "
16 " At daybreak on the fortieth day, the archangel Gabriel appeared before Hafiz and told him to ask for whatever he wished. Hafiz had never seen such a glorious, radiant being as Gabriel. He found himself thinking, “If God’s messenger is so beautiful, how much more beautiful must God be!” Gazing on the unimaginable splendor of God’s angel, Hafiz forgot all about the girl, his wish, everything. He said, “I want God! "
17 " Every Movement I rarely let the word “No” escape From my mouth Because it is so plain to my soul That God has shouted, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” To every luminous movement in Existence. "
18 " I Am Determined One regret, dear world, That I am determined not to have When I am lying on my deathbed Is that I did not kiss you enough. "
19 " The Only Sin I Know If someone sits with me And we talk about the Beloved, If I cannot give his heart comfort, If I cannot make him feel better About himself and this world, Then, Hafiz, Quickly run to the mosque and pray—For you have just committed The only sin I know. "
20 " I am happy even before I have a reason. "