"Talking Through the Door" (Rumi)

You said, "Who's at the door?"
   I said, "Your slave."

You said, "What do you want?"
   "To see you and bow."

"How long will you wait?"
   "Until you call"

"How long will you cook?"
   "Till the Resurrection."

We talked through the door. 
I claimed a great love and that I had given up
what the world gives to be in that love.

You said, "Such claims require a witness."
   I said, "This longing, these tears."

You said, "Discredited witnesses."
   I said, "Surely not!"

You said, "Who did you come with?"
   "The majestic imagination you gave me."

"Why did you come?"
   "The musk of your wine was in the air."

"What is your intention?"
   "Friendship."

"What do you want from me?"
   "Grace."

Then you asked, "Where have you been most comfortable?"
   "In the palace."

"What did you see there?"
   "Amazing things."

"Then why is it so desolate?"
   "Because all that can be taken away in a second."

"Who can do that?"
   "This clear discernment."

"Where can you live safely then?"
   "In surrender."

"What is this giving up?"
   "A peace that saves us."

"Is there no threat of disaster?"
   "Only what comes in your street, 
    inside your love."

"How do you walk there?"
   "In perfection."

Now silence. If I told more of this conversation,
those listening would leave themselves.

There would be no door,
no roof, or window either.

-RUMI, Selected Poems-

a smile for the restless

Our lives begin at that moment, 

as light and dark are at their peak,

as comfort turns into a muddle,

and heart memory collects its story.

One by one, 'they' leave 

Little by little, the 'i' shed skin.

Until there's nothing left to mourn.

Trying to show a portrait of 'self',

while hiding behind its own eyes.

Starting to crawl, struggling to walk

Turning our back against the coldness yet refreshing truth

Holding on tight to nothingness, 

while running, leaping, head first.

Letting go when need to, when knowing we have to, 

at our most painful.

The good lines, the fine words, the metaphors

Educate to medicate, a smile to plaster

Breathe to live...

For now, be enough...

Just enough.

[s$t]