Showing posts with label pussy willows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pussy willows. Show all posts

Saturday, February 12, 2022

Pussy Willows and a Poem "Laughter" by Hafiz

 

Are pussy willows found all over the world? Many grew near my childhood home in Wisconsin, and I treated myself and bought two bunches at Trader Joe's. My friend told me they last a very long time if you do not put them in water, so I am doing that.

They are so soft, like velvet, like a kitten's paws, a bunny rabbit, or like my dog's ears.


Terry Hershey in his email newsletter "Sabbath Moments" (I get his newsletter for free every Monday) quoted Hafiz, a poet from Iran who wrote in the 1300s.  I found a poem by Hafiz I like and here it is. 

LAUGHTER

What is laughter? What is laughter?
It is God waking up! O it is God waking up!
It is the sun poking its sweet head out from behind a cloud
You have been carrying too long, veiling your eyes and heart.
It is Light breaking ground for a great structure
That is your real body, called Truth.
It is happiness applauding itself and then taking flight
To embrace everyone and everything in this world.
Laughter is the polestar held in the sky by our Beloved,
Who eternally says,
"Yes, dear ones, come this way, come this way toward Me and Love!
Come with your tender mouths moving and your beautiful tongues conducting songs,
And with your movements - your magic movements
Of hands and feet and glands and cells - Dancing!
Know that to God's eye, all movement is a wondrous language,
And music, such exquisite, wild music!"
O what is laughter, Hafiz?
What is this precious love and laughter budding in our hearts?
It is the glorious sound of a soul waking up!