One can be wise
Wealthy and generous
Kind as earth is wide
But unless their touch
Gives and receives
Stories gently
Our lives an imprint
Of our family tree
The sting of derision
Hurts them more than me
Storykeepers spreading
Joy of living
From petal to seed
Even after
All this time
The sun
Never says
To the earth
"You owe me"
Look what happens
With a love
Like that.
It lights
The whole sky.
~ From The Gift:
Poems by Hafiz, 1999.
By Daniel Ladinsky
A ship out of water
Hiding in the shadow
Golden yellow halo
Curls and waves fall
Frame her face
Fixed on me
Two sapphire gems
So blindingly bright
I take pictures
With my mind
Side-glances
While capturing
All the beauty
Earth and sea
In between
Rocky shore
Where still waters
Lap at oyster shells
Wings open to glide
Over river mirror
Reflections everywhere
Stories shared
Held carefully
Between clasped hands
A body of water
Still reflecting sky
Seemingly inanimate
Yet underneath
Life abounds
In tepid pools
Embankments bare
Except for wintering
Trees naked as we came
Trickling down
Not reaching for
Anywhere or anything
All flows in
Saying Come to me
I am here
She bought me bubble tea
Sweet treats in the middle
Of the day
Mine a chocolate butterfly
With a caramel centre
Wrapped in pink foil
Delightful
Found poetry
Stone cold metropolis
Gruelling southern front
Shades of grey surround
How many colours blue
Can one feel
Without you?
Of utmost importance
To gravitate towards
Such a warm affectionate
Lover kissing skin pink
By evening
Sting but turns earthy
Tones as memory of her
Softens
One clear day
When sky lids
Close half over
Weep gently
Pull on seal
Skin over
Locking in
Blood warmth
Cacophony of
Pleasure
Metered out
In spades
Splash of cymbals
Crash of waves
Roll of tides
Wash round headland
Where Antarctic
And Eastern
Currents meet
Across my face
Wakening
Tingles up
Spine lest
Wonder
Tick and slip
Shells and silk
Fronds of green
Stick to shore
Long to cover
Over me
Once more round
Mind wander
Thinking space
Underneath glassy
Mirror of sky
Face hides
Quiet applause
Of claws
Mussels galore
Conquest of sorts
Long length
Of the bay
Count the stars of heaven 