Poem-A-Day 2021, Day 11: Hafiz

On By angeliquejamailIn Hafiz, National Poetry Month, poetry

Here is another lovely fragment from Mala of the Heart, this time by Hafiz of Persia (Iran). It reminds me of the need and mutual benefit of kindness in the world.

God
blooms
from the shoulder
of the
elephant
who becomes
courteous
to the
ant.

***

Hafiz (ca. 1320-1389) was born in the garden city of Shiraz. It is said that after the early death of his father, Hafiz worked for a bakery, where he caught sight of Shakh-e Nabat, whose incredible beauty moved him to write and sing of his love for her. During a forty-night vigil to win this girl’s love, Hafiz had a vision of an angel, whose beauty led Hafiz to realize that God was infinitely more beautiful than any human form. The angel revealed where Hafiz could find a spiritual master. Hafiz then met and became a disciple of Attar of Shiraz, who led Hafiz to union with God. Like other great Sufi poets, Hafiz employed imagery to express his longing and love for the divine.

This biographical information is quoted from Mala of the Heart.

 

12 thoughts on “Poem-A-Day 2021, Day 11: Hafiz”

  3. Pingback: Poem-A-Day 2021, Day 11: Hafiz — Sappho’s Torque – Peter's pondering

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