Versedays: All the Hemispheres by Hafiz

Image courtesy: streetyoga.org

It feels lovely to begin the much-loved Versedays again! A lot of of our readers particularly enquired after this section of the blog. We were surprised and honoured.

So for a new beginning, I chose this poem by the 14th century Persian poet Hafiz, a name denoting the one who has memorized the Quran. Hafiz wrote about love and wine and lived in Shiraz (quite apt) in ancient Iran. Hafiz reminds me a lot of Rumi with the same mellifluous tones and rich imagery. He is so influential in Persian culture that even today, his poetry can be found in virtually every Iranian home. On October 12th, Iranians celebrate this mystic poet with singing and poetry. Read more of his poetry here and a little more about his background here. Today's chosen poem is all about new beginnings and an open mind taken from "The Subject Tonight is Love" translated by Daniel Ladinsky. Enjoy!

All the Hemispheres

by

Hafiz

Leave the familiar for a while.
Let your senses and bodies stretch out

Like a welcomed season
Onto the meadows and shores and hills.

Open up to the Roof.
Make a new water-mark on your excitement
And love.

Like a blooming night flower,
Bestow your vital fragrance of happiness
And giving
Upon our intimate assembly.

Change rooms in your mind for a day.

All the hemispheres in existence
Lie beside an equator
In your heart.

Greet Yourself
In your thousand other forms
As you mount the hidden tide and travel
Back home.

All the hemispheres in heaven
Are sitting around a fire
Chatting

While stitching themselves together
Into the Great Circle inside of
You.