If you stay awake for an entire night...by Rumi

If you stay awake 
for an entire night 
watch out for a treasure 
trying to arrive 

You can keep warm 
by the secret sun of the night
keeping your eyes open
for the softness of dawn

Try it for tonight
challenge your sleepy eyes
do not lay your head down
wait for heavenly alms

Night is the bringer of gifts
Moses went on a ten-year journey
during a single night
invited by a tree
to watch the fire and light

Mohammed too made his passage
during that holy night
when he heard the glorious voice
when he ascended to the sky

day is to make a living
night is only for love
commoners sleep fast
lovers whisper to God all night

All night long
a voice calls upon you
to wake up
in the precious hours

If you miss your chance now
when your body is left behind
your soul will lament
death is a life of no return

~ Rumi
Ghazal (Ode) 258
Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi, Fountain of Fire"
Cal-Earth Press, 1994

Between Your eye and this page...by Hafiz

Between
Your eye and this page
I am standing.

Between
Your ear and sound
The Friend has pitched a golden tent
Your spirit walks through a thousand times
A day.

Each time you pass the Kaaba
The Sun unwinds a silk thread from your body.
Each time you pass any object
From within it
I bow.

If you are still having doubts
About His nearness
Once in a while debate with God.

Between
Your eye and this page Hafiz
Is standing.

Bump
Into me
More.

~ Hafiz
Art by Tanya Keefe

Closing my eyes I open them inside your eyes...by Octavio Paz

I turn the page of the day,
writing what I'm told
by the motion of your eyelashes.
the truthfulness of the dark.

I want proofs of darkness, want
to drink the black wine:
take my eyes and crush them.

A drop of night
on your breast's tip:
mysteries of the carnation.

Closing my eyes
I open them inside your eyes.

Always awake
on its garnet bed:
your wet tongue.

There are fountains
in the garden of your veins.

With a mask of blood
I cross your thoughts blankly:
amnesia guides me
to the other side of life.

~ Octavio Paz