Renderings of Hafiz
By: Daniel Ladinsky
Published by: Penguin Books
This thin book of poems of hope and joy is a treasure of spiritual assets. This selection of Hafiz's poems, by Daniel Ladinsky, is certainly marvelous. Hafiz, whose real name was Shams-ud-din, was born in Shiraz, Persia. He was gifted with natural poetic talent. Hafiz was a student of sufi teacher Muhammad Attar till the age of 60, and was guided by him through different spiritual stages of understanding of divine love. Later on he himself became a sufi master.
In his poem, and his experiences, Hafiz uses symbolic numbers or words which need to be understood to get the inner meaning of his poems before reading them. For example, the number forty is used on multiple occasions as a symbol of learning and change. I will quote the significance of this number direct from the book, "I Heard God Laughing":
"....forty is often used to indicate a term of learning and change, such as the "forty days and forty nights" of Noah's flood. Forty is also called "the number of perseverence" marking a period of growth through testing, trial and purification. After the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites endured "forty years of wandering" in the wilderness before they were ready to enter the Promised Land. Jesus, following the ancient practice of the prophets, went into the desert for a great seclusion of forty days, which he described as a period of purification and preparation for the next stage of his work. The Buddha attained final enlightenment after forty days of continuous meditation. Or the words like "aged wine" are used to represent the purified (distilled) essence of knowing of love."
I would suggest the reader should first read "The Life and Work of Hafiz" by Henry S. Mindlin, towards the end of the book before reading the poems. This will give the reader a deeper meaning and understanding of poems selected by Daniel Ladinsky.
Ladinsky has presented the poems under seven headings, each with a specific theme.
1. "You are with a friend now" has those poems which talk about those preparations which are needed before begining the journey of love.
2. "Come to My House" is the part where Hafiz introduces himself as a Guide, Friend and Lover who invites us to share his life and see the world through his eyes.
3. "We All Sit in God's Classroom" consists of all those poems that unfold the journey of love through process of life, not by talking but by experiencing love.
"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
4. "Set this Dry, Boring Place on Fire" consists of selected poems that deepen the understanding of real love. Hafiz challenges the love to reach its extreme intensity and then experience the divine love.
"
Spill the Oil Lamp!
Set this dry boring place on fire!
If you have ever
Made wanton love with God,
Then you have ignited that brilliant light inside
That every person needs
So ____
Spill the Oil
5. "Let Me Near You Tonight" describes the relationship between spiritual teacher and student. It talks about the bond between master and disciple (teacher and student).
"Something Invisible"
Once I asked my Master,
"What is the difference
Between you and me?"
And he replied,
"Hafiz, only this:
If a herd of wild buffalo
Broke into our house
And knocked over
Our empty begging bowls,
Not a drop would spill from yours
But there is something invisible
That God has placed in mine
If that spilled from my bowl,
It would drown the whole world."
6. "May be I could become a poet" is the section that consists of all those poems that reflect why Hafiz chose to be a poet to express the divine beauty and love.
"Your beautiful parched, holy mouth
A poet is someone
Who can pour light into a spoon,
Then raise it
To nourish
Your beautiful parched holy mouth
7. "God's Laughter" is the last section consisting of those poems that talk about God's laughter. This laughter, which is pure joy, can be heard through His closeness and the reader can feel the joy. This laughter is a music of love on which you can dance with God.
"Forever Dance"
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
What can Hafiz now do but Forever dance!
This beautiful book is definitely worth reading. It's tickling poems trigger the rythem in soul and give smile to my lips. Melodious words of these poems made my soul dance and my inquisitive being is trying to hear the God's laugh to eliminate my sorrows and enlighten my heart with joy.
