Prachtige gedichten om op te mediteren/beautiful poetry to meditate on.

Eternity’s Love Song 

 Softly, softly,

You came creeping in

like summer breeze

moving curtains

softly, softly, as a feather

brushing lips, eternity’s kiss

this is Grace

I am your servant, here is my place

 

Hot like fire, glowing embers

of this heart catch light

my awareness

hot like fire, in your presence

feeling humble, like a giant

this is Life

I am your purpose,

You are my drive.

 

Sharp like razor blades, my weakness

seems to crucify

gently, gently doubt will vanish

feeling battered, peace is coming

this is Heart

You are the Whole and I am a part. 

 

Carla van Ommen (2006) 

 

 

“I KNOW THE WAY YOU CAN GET”

 

 I KNOW THE WAY YOU CAN GET WHEN YOU HAVE NOT HAD A DRINK OF LOVE:

YOUR FACE HARDENS, YOUR SWEET MUSCLES CRAMP, CHILDREN BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT A STRANGE LOOK THAT APPEARS IN YOUR EYES

WHICH EVEN BEGINS TO WORRY YOUR OWN MIRROR AND NOSE.

SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS SENSE YOUR SADNESS AND CALL AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN A TALL TREE.

THEY DECIDE WHICH SECRET CODE TO CHANT TO HELP YOUR MIND AND SOUL.

EVEN ANGELS FEAR THAT BRAND OF MADNESS THAT ARRAYS ITSELF AGAINST THE WORLD

AND THROWS SHARP STONES AND SPEARS INTO THE INNOCENT AND INTO ONE'S SELF.

OH,  I KNOW THE WAY YOU CAN GET IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN DRINKING LOVE:

YOU MIGHT RIP APART EVERY SENTENCE YOUR FRIENDS AND TEACHERS SAY,

LOOKING FOR HIDDEN CLAUSES. YOU MIGHT WEIGH EVERY WORD ON A SCALE LIKE A DEAD FISH.

YOU MIGHT PULL OUT A RULER TO MEASURE FROM EVERY ANGLE IN YOUR DARKNESS THE BEAUTIFUL DIMENSIONS OF A HEART YOU ONCE TRUSTED.

I KNOW THE WAY YOU CAN GET IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A DRINK FROM LOVE'S HANDS.

THAT IS WHY ALL THE GREAT ONES SPEAK OF THE VITAL NEED TO KEEP REMEMBERING GOD,

SO YOU WILL COME TO KNOW AND SEE HIM AS BEING SO PLAYFUL AND WANTING,

JUST WANTING TO HELP.

 

THAT IS WHY HAFIZ SAYS:

BRING YOUR CUP NEAR ME. FOR ALL I CARE ABOUT IS QUENCHING YOUR THIRST FOR FREEDOM!

ALL A SANE MAN CAN EVER CARE ABOUT IS GIVING LOVE!”

― HAFIZ

 

REASON

Let reason go.

For His light

burns reason up from head to foot.

If you wish to see that Face,

seek another eye.

The philosopher

with his two eyes sees double,

so is unable to see the unity of the Truth.

As His light burns up the angels,

even so does it consume reason.

As the light of our eyes is to the sun,

so is the light of reason to the Light of Lights.

 

By Mahmud Shabistari   (from The Secret Rose Garden)

English version by Florence Lederer

Original Language Persian/Farsi

 

 

by Baba Kuhi of Shiraz

English version by Reynold A. Nicholson

Original Language Persian/Farsi

In the market, in the cloister--only God I saw

 

In the market, in the cloister--only God I saw.

In the valley and on the mountain--only God I saw.

Him I have seen beside me oft in tribulation;

In favour and in fortune--only God I saw.

In prayer and fasting, in praise and contemplation,

In the religion of the Prophet--only God I saw.

Neither soul nor body, accident nor substance,

Qualities nor causes--only God I saw.

I oped mine eyes and by the light of His face around me

In all the eye discovered--only God I saw.

Like a candle I was melting in His fire:

Amidst the flames outflashing--only God I saw.

Myself with mine own eyes I saw most clearly,

But when I looked with God's eyes--only God I saw.

I passed away into nothingness, I vanished,

And so, I was the All-living--only God I saw.

 

From The Longing in Between: Sacred Poetry from Around the World (A Poetry Chaikhana Anthology), Edited by Ivan M. Granger

Poems by Baba Kuhi of Shiraz

Baba Kuhi is an Iranian Sufi poet-saint. He spent many years in retreat and prayer in a mountain cave just north of Shiraz. He died in 1050 A.D., and was buried just outside of Shiraz, on a hill called "the green old man" (Pir-i-sabz). It is said that just before Baba Kuhi died, he made a famous promise that if anyone could stay awake for forty consecutive nights at his tomb that person would be granted the gift of poetry, immortality, and his heart's desire.

 

A story is told about the later Sufi poet Hafiz: When the young Hafiz was in mourning because the young woman he loved was to marry the prince of Shiraz, he remembered the famous 'promise of Baba Kuhi.' Hafiz hoped to gain the young woman's hand and kept his vigil at Baba Kuhi's tomb at night, working in the bakery by day. Finally, utterly exhausted, Hafiz saw a radiant angel who asked him what he desired most. Hafiz was so dazzled by the sight of the angel that he forgot about the young woman and declared that he wanted God.

 

Just Rest?

"Just sit there right now
Don't do a thing
Just rest.

For your separation from God,
From love,
Is the hardest work In this world.

Let me bring you trays of food
And something that
You like to drink.

You can use my soft words
As a cushion
For your Head."

Hafiz.