Peter Lucas Hulen

Hafiz

Hafiz

FOR THREE DAYS

Not many teachers in this world
Can give you as much enlightenment
In one year

As sitting all alone, for three days,
In your closet
Would
Do.

This means not leaving.
Better get a friend to help with
A few sandwiches
And
The chamber
Pot.

And no reading in there or writing poems,
That would be cheating;
Aim high—for a 360 degree
Detox.

This sitting alone, though, is
Not recommended

If you are normally
Sedated

Or have ever been under doctor's
Surveillance because of your
Brain.

Dear one,
Don't let Hafiz fool you—

A ruby is buried
Here.




Daniel Ladinsky, Tr.,
The Gift: poems by Hafiz the great Sufi master
(New York: Penguin, 1999)