Hafiz - Poetry in Motion

August 25, 2010 by Freeboxdancer

I really love this poem by Hafiz, so I recorded it today on my iphone, imported it into Garage band to make a few tweaks and add a music track and voila...I had a soundtrack for today's dance. I kept the movement simple, but I really love the graphic effect that made good use of my loft's windows.

DIVIDING GOD

The moon starts singing
When everyone is asleep
And the planets throw a bright robe
Around their shoulders and whirl up
Close to her side.

Once I asked the moon,
“Why do you and your sweet friends
Not perform so romantically like that
To a larger crowd?”

And the whole sky chorus resounded,

“The admission price to hear
The lofty minstrels
Speak of love

Is affordable only to those
Who have not exhausted themselves
Dividing God all day
And thus need rest.

The thrilled Tavern fiddlers
Who are perched on the roof

Do not want their notes to intrude
Upon the ears
Where an accountant lives
With a sharp pencil
Keeping score of words
Another
In their great sorrow or sad anger
May have once said
To you.”

Hafiz knows:
The sun will stand as your best man
And whistle

When you have found the courage
To marry forgiveness,

When you have found the courage
To marry
Love.

(“The Gift” – versions of Hafiz by Daniel Ladinsky)