Out of the Mouths of a Thousand Birds (Hafiz)
Listen - Listen more carefully to what is around you · Right now.
In my world · There are the bells from the clanks · Of the morning milk drums,
And a wagon wheel outside my window · Just hit a bump
Which turned into an ecstatic chorus · Of the Beloved's Name.
There is the Prayer Call · Rising up like the sun · Out of the mouths of a thousand birds.
There is an astonishing vastness · Of movement and Life
Emanating sound and light · From my folded hands
And my even quieter simple being and heart.
My dear, · Is it true that your mind · Is sometimes like a battering · Ram
Running all through the city, · Shouting so madly inside and out
About the ten thousand things · That do not matter?
Hafiz, too, · For many years beat his head in youth
And thought himself at a great distance, · Far from an armistice · With God.
But that is why this scarred old pilgrim · Has now become such a sweet rare vintage · Who weeps and sings for you.
O listen - · Listen more carefully · To what is inside of you right now.
In my world · All that remains is the wondrous call to · Dance and prayer
Rising up like a thousand suns · Out of the mouth of a · Single bird.
-Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladinsky)
