With that Moon Language

With That Moon Language – by Hafiz

Admit something:

Everyone you see, you say to them,

“Love me.”

Of course you do not do this out loud;

Otherwise,

Someone would call the cops.

Still though, think about this,

This great pull in us to connect.

Why not become the one

Who lives with a full moon in each eye

That is always saying,

With that sweet moon

Language,

What every other eye in this world

Is dying to

Hear.

Hafiz (translated by Daniel Ladinsky)

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Children do this: they come to everyone and bid, “Love me.”

When does that stop; why does it stop?

We all have the impulse in us to ask for love and to give love.

The ancient Sufi poet puts it into words and bids us to “become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye” – like every child of love – and “always saying what every other eye in the world is dying to hear: Love me.”

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Persian lyric poet Hafiz (born Khwāja Šamsu d-Dīn Muḥammad Hāfez-e Šīrāzī, circa 1315 – 1390). Though very little is known about his life, he is one of the most celebrated of the Persian poets, and his influence can be felt to this day. As the author of numerous ghazals expressing love, spirituality, and protest, he and his work continue to be important to Iranians, and many of his poems are used as proverbs or sayings.

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