' Tripping Over Joy '...

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,

I am afraid you still think

You have a thousand serious moves.


- Hafiz

I Heard God Laughing
Renderings of Hafiz
by Daniel Ladinsky
Dhama Publishing Company, 1996