Tired of Speaking Sweetly by Hafiz

Translated by Daniel Ladinsky in The Gift: Poems by Hafiz, The Great Sufi Master

Man holding child upside down on beach - Stock Photo - Dissolve

This poem by Hafiz is dedicated to the Mothers and Fathers brave enough to go into that private room with God, ready to be shaken for the sake of the children in your care, awakened to agape.

Love wants to reach out and manhandle us,

Break all our teacup talk of God.

If you had the courage and

Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights,

He would just drag you around the room

By our hair,

Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world

That bring you no joy.

Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly

And wants to rip to shreds

All your erroneous notions of truth

That make you fight within yourself, dear one,

And with others,

Causing the world to weep

On too many fine days.

God wants to manhandle us,

Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself

And practice His dropkick.

The Beloved sometimes wants

To do us a great favor:

Hold us upside down

And shake all the nonsense out.

But when we hear

He is in such a “playful drunken mood”

Most everyone I know

Quickly packs their bags and hightails it

Out of town.

Author: DrRachel

Rachel Magnell, Ph.D. is studied in Counseling Psychology, Neuroscience, Jungian Depth Psychology, Hypnosis, Yoga Philosophy and Meditation.

2 thoughts on “Tired of Speaking Sweetly by Hafiz”

  1. Oh Rachel I love this poem and the Rumi this a.m. Can you post your source for each? I always want to know who the translator is, and whether I’ve got it here in my house. Blessingsā¤

    1. Thank you! In my haste, I neglected that very important detail! Just added the reference for both beneath the title!

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