IF THE FALLING OF A HOOF
If the falling of a hoof
Ever rings the temple bells,
Ever rings the temple bells,
If a lonely man's final scream
Before he hangs himself
Before he hangs himself
And the nightingale's perfect lyric
Of happiness
All become an equal cause to dance,
Of happiness
All become an equal cause to dance,
Then the Sun has at last parted
Its curtain before you –
Its curtain before you –
God has stopped playing child's games
With your mind
And dragged you backstage by
The hair,
With your mind
And dragged you backstage by
The hair,
Shown to you the only possible
Reason
Reason
For this bizarre and spectacular
Existence.
Existence.
Go running through the streets
Creating divine chaos,
Creating divine chaos,
Make everyone and yourself ecstatically mad
For the Friend's beautiful open arms.
For the Friend's beautiful open arms.
Go running through this world
Giving love, giving love,
Giving love, giving love,
If the falling of a hoof upon this earth
Ever rings the
Temple
Bell.
.
Ever rings the
Temple
Bell.
.
by Hafiz
from The Gift
Versions by Daniel Ladinsky
from The Gift
Versions by Daniel Ladinsky