Ingredients for Joy

Hafiz is one of my all time favourite poets. Just your everyday great Sufi master. Each morning on waking (when my 2.5 year old tiny terrorist doesn't wake me first) and evening before falling into bed, I read one to connect to something beautiful, light, profound, loving and wise... something that isn't me and my thoughts when they're whirling. 

To bring me back to clarity and simplicity, I love this one a lot:

To Build a Swing

You carry
All the ingredients
To turn your life into a nightmare-
Don’t mix them!

You have all the genius
To build a swing in your backyard
For God.

That sounds
Like a hell of a lot more fun.

Let’s start laughing, drawing blueprints,
Gathering our talented friends.

I will help you
With my divine lyre and drum.

Hafiz
Will sing a thousand words
You can take into your hands,
Like golden saws,
Sliver hammers,

Polished teakwood,
Strong silk rope.

You carry all the ingredients
To turn your existence into joy,
Mix them, mix
Them!                                                                                                                                               

Translated by Daniel Ladinsky