Hafiz is one of the greatest of all the Persian mystical poets who was born around 1324 A.D. and died around 1391. Several essays can be found on the net about this great man. A very nice article can be found at www.iranonline.com and also a biography and a selection of his poems can be found @poetseers.org
There Could Be Holy Fallout
We are often in battle.
So often defending every side of the fort,
It may seem, all alone.
Sit down, my dear,
Take a few deep breaths,
Think about a loyal friend.
Where is your music,
Your pet, a brush ?
Surely one who has lasted as long as you
Knows some avenue or place inside
That can give a sweet respite.
If you cannot slay your panic,
Then say within
As convincingly as you can,
“It is all God’s will !”
Now pick up your life again.
Let whatever is out there
Come charging in,
Laugh and spit into the air,
There could be holy fallout.
Throw those ladders like tiny match sticks
With “just” phantoms upon them
Who might be trying to scale your heart.
Your love has an eloquent tone.
The sky and I want to hear it !
If you still feel helpless
Give our battle cry again,
Hafiz
Has shouted it a myriad times,
“It is all,
It is all the Beloved’s will !”
What is that luminous rain I see
All around you in the future
Sweeping in from the east plain ?
It looks like, O it looks like
Holy fallout
Filling your mouth and palms
With Joy!
Hafiz
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky