I wish I could speak like music

I wish I could speak like music.

I wish I could put the swaying splendor

Of the fields into words

So that you could hold Truth

Against your body

And dance.

I am trying the best I can

With this crude brush, the tongue, 

To cover you with light

.

I wish I could speak like divine music.

I want to give you the sublime rhythms

Of this earth and the sky's limbs

As they joyously spin and surrender,

Surrender

Against God's luminous breath.

Hafiz Wants you to hold me

Against your precious

Body

And dance

Dance.

–Hafiz

from The Gift: Poems by Hafiz

translations by Daniel Ladinsky

art by van gogh