Thursday, February 14, 2008

The Instruments

by Rumi

Who is the luckiest in this whole orchestra? The reed.
Its mouth touches your lips to learn music.


All reeds, sugarcane especially, think only
of this chance. They sway in the canebrakes,
free in the many ways they dance.


Without you the instruments would die.
One sits close beside you. Another takes a long kiss.
The tambourine begs, Touch my skin so I can be myself.


Let me feel you enter each limb bone by bone,
that what died last night can be whole today.
Why live some soberer way, and feel you ebbing out?
I won't do it.


Either give me enough wine or leave me alone,
now that I know how it is
to be with you in constant conversation.

translated by Coleman Barks.


Thank you, my friends, virtual and not, for entering into conversation with me. Why live some soberer way...
I won't do it.


Happy Valentine's Day.

6 comments:

Java said...

This is one of the best love poems I've read. Interesting, as at first blush it doesn't look like a love poem.

Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day. Or a good Thursday, whichever best applies.

Anonymous said...

Lovely poem from a handsome man and a lovely person. Thank you for sharing.

-C

dantallion said...

Beautiful, that. Thanks for sharing it.

john said...

Happy Valentine's day!!

Joe Masse said...

Thanks for the wine and the music...

Sway us more.

Cooper said...

Gorgeous poem enhanced and illustrated by the skin of Patrick. Come sway with me, most unsoberly ...

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