"Tripping Over Joy" - Hafez

 

 

 

TRIPPING OVER JOY

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.

 

Hafez

 

I choose to believe that in the translations of these ancient, graceful, joyful poems, the term "saint" can be interpreted to mean "an enlightened one," as opposed to the perhaps more western idea of the term, that of a religious individual with strict adherence to a particular canon.

 

 

 

Comments

[Gay-in-AA]

Thanks Mr S. One of my favorite poems from one of my favorite poets.