Hafiz' ecstatic poetry

Hafiz, a Sufi poet, expressed in poetry love for the divine, and the intoxicating oneness of union with it.  Along with many Sufi masters, he uses wine as the symbol for love. The intoxication that results from both is why it is such a fitting comparison. Hafiz spoke out about the hypocrisy and deceit that exists in society, and was more outspoken in pointing this out than many poets similar to him. He lived in south-central Iran in the 1300’s A.D.

I Will Hire You as a Minstrel

Take one of my tears,

Throw it into the ocean

And watch the salt in the wounds

Of this earth and men begin to disappear.

Take one of my tears

And cradle it in your palm.

Mount a great white camel

And carry my love into every desert,

Paying homage to every Prophet

Who has ever walked in our world.

O take one of my tears

And stop weeping only for sadness,

For there is so much More to this life

Than you now understand.

Take one of my tears

And become like the Happy One,

O like the Happy One --

Who now lives Forever

Within me.

When a drop from my Emerald Sea

Touches your soul's mouth,

It will dissolve everything but your Joy

And an Eternal Wonder.

Then,

The Beloved will gladly hire you

As His minstrel

To go traveling about this world,

Letting everyone upon this earth

Hear

The Beautiful Names of God

Resound in a thousand chords!

Hafiz himself is singing tonight

In Resplendent Glory,

For the cup in my heart

Has revealed the Beloved's Face,

And I have His oath in writing

That He will never again depart.

0 Hafiz, take one of your tears,

For you are weeping like a golden candle-

Throw one tear into the Ocean of your own verse

And let the wounds

Of every lover of God who kneels in prayer

And comes close to your words

Begin, right now,

To disappear.

From: "I Heard God Laughing - Renderings of Hafiz" 
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky