ZIKR

Remembrance lowers the cup into
His luminous sky-well.

The mind often becomes plagued and can deny
The all-pervading beauty
Of God.

When the great work of zikr (remembrance)
Is forgotten.

I have chained my every dancing atom
Into a divine seat in the Beloved's Tavern.

What I have learned
I am so eager to share:

Every ill will confess
It was just a lie

When the golden efforts of your love
Lift the precious wine
To your mouth.

Remembrance of our dear Friend
Lower's the soul's chalice
Into God.

Look, my sweet efforts and His Sublime Grace
Have now turned Creation into a single finger
On my hand

And from the vast reservoirs
In my heart and palms

Hafiz offers
God.

(Hafiz)

'The Gift' Poems by Hafiz - translations by Daniel Ladinsky