When love itself comes to kiss you, don't hold back......by Rumi

When love itself
comes to kiss you,

don't hold back!


When the king

goes hunting, the forest smiles.

Now the king has become the place

and all the players, prey, bystander,

bow, arrow, hand and release.
How does that feel?


Last night's dream

enters these open eyes.


When we die

and turn to dust, each particle will

be the whole.

You hear a mote whirl

taking form?


My music.  Love, calm,

patient.


The Friend has waded down

into existence,
gotten stuck, and will not be seen
again outside of

this.


We sometimes make spiderwebs

of smoke and saliva, fragile thought -

packets.


Leave thinking to the one

who gave intelligence .


In silence

there is eloquence.


Stop weaving,

and watch how the pattern improves.

~ Rumi

from the soul of Rumi

translations by Coleman Barks

I wish I knew what you wanted.......by Rumi

I wish I knew what you wanted. 
You block the road and won't give me rest. 

You pull my lead-rope one way, then the other. 
You act cold, my darling! 
Do you hear what I say? 

Will this night of talking ever end ?
Why am I still embarrassed and timid
about you? You are thousands.
You are one.
Quiet, but most articulate.

Your name is Spring.
Your name is wine.
Your name is the nausea
that comes from wine!

You are my doubting
and the lightpoints
in my eyes.

You are every image, and yet
I'm homesick for you.

Can I get there?
Where the deer pounces on the lion,
where the one I'm after's
after me ?

This drum and these words keep pounding !
Let them both smash through their coverings
into silence.

~ Rumi
Ghazal (Ode)1837,
from Rumi's "Diwan-e Shams"
("The Collection of Shams")
Version by Coleman Barks,
from a translation by A.J. Arberry
"Like This"
Maypop, 1990