i was dead
i came alive
i was tears
i became laughter


all because of love
when it arrived
my temporal life
from then on
changed to eternal


love said to me
you are not
crazy enough
you don't
fit this house


i went and
became crazy
crazy enough
to be in chains


love said
you are not
intoxicated enough
you don't
fit the group


i went and
got drunk
drunk enough
to overflow
with light-headedness


love said
you are still
too clever
filled with
imagination and skepticism


i went and
became gullible
and in fright
pulled away
from it all


love said
you are a candle
attracting everyone
gathering every one
around you


i am no more
a candle spreading light
i gather no more crowds
and like smoke
i am all scattered now


love said
you are a teacher
you are a head
and for everyone
you are a leader


i am no more
not a teacher
not a leader
just a servant
to your wishes


love said
you already have
your own wings
i will not give you
more feathers


and then my heart
pulled itself apart
and filled to the brim
with a new light
overflowed with fresh life


now when the heavens
are thankful that
because of love
i have become
the giver of light

rumi

***********
 I Have Learned So Much

I
Have
Learned
So much from God
That I can no longer
Call
Myself

A Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim,
a Buddhist, a Jew.

The Truth has shared so much of Itself
With me

That I can no longer call myself
A man, a woman, an angel,
Or even a pure
Soul.

Love has
Befriended Hafiz so completely
It has turned to ash
And freed
Me

Of every concept and image
my mind has ever known.

Hafiz 
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky