“The ear participates, and helps arrange marriages;the eye has already made love with what it sees.The eye knows pleasure, delights in the body's shape:the ear hears words that talk about all this.When hearing takes place, character areas change;but when you see, inner areas change.If all you know about fire is what you have heardsee if the fire will agree to cook you!Certain energies come only when you burn.If you long for belief, sit down in the fire!When the ear receives subtly; it turns into an eye.But if words do not reach the ear in the chest, nothing happens.”

“Hear this if you can:If you want to reach himYou have to go beyond yourselfAnd when you finally arrive at the land of absenceBe silentDon’t say a thingEcstasy, not words, is the language spoken there”

“Don't try to steer the boat. Don't open shop for yourself. Listen. Keep silent. You are not God's mouthpiece. Try to be an ear, And if you do speak, ask for explanations.”

“All day I think about it, then at night I say it.Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?I have no idea.My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,And I intend to end up there.This drunkenness began in some other tavern.When I get back around to that place,I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.The day is coming when I fly off,But who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?Who says words with my mouth?Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?I cannot stop asking.If I could taste one sip of an answer,I could break out of this prison for drunks.I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.This poetry. I never know what I'm going to say.I don't plan it.When I'm outside the saying of it, I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.We have a huge barrel of wine, but no cups.That's fine with us. Every morningWe glow and in the evening we glow again.”

“An eye is meant to see things.The soul is here for its own joy.A head has one use: For loving a true love.Feet: To chase after.Love is for vanishing into the sky. The mind,for learning what men have done and tried to do.Mysteries are not to be solved: The eye goes blindwhen it only wants to see why.A lover is always accused of something.But when he finds his love, whatever was lostin the looking comes back completely changed.”

“For ages you have come and gonecourting this delusion.For ages you have run from the painand forfeited the ecstasy.So come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.Although you appear in earthly formYour essence is pure Consciousness.You are the fearless guardianof Divine Light.So come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.When you lose all sense of selfthe bonds of a thousand chains will vanish.Lose yourself completely,Return to the root of the rootof your own soul.You descended from Adam, by the pure Word of God,but you turned your sightto the empty show of this world.Alas, how can you be satisfied with so little?So come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.Why are you so enchanted by this worldwhen a mine of gold lies within you?Open your eyes and come ---Return to the root of the rootof your own soul.You were born from the rays of God's Majestywhen the stars were in their perfect place.How long will you suffer from the blowsof a nonexistent hand?So come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.You are a ruby encased in granite.How long will you decieve Us with this outer show?O friend, We can see the truth in your eyes!So come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.After one moment with that glorious Friendyou became loving, radiant, and ecstatic.Your eyes were sweet and full of fire.Come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.Shams-e Tabriz, the King of the Tavernhas handed you an eternal cup,And God in all His glory is pouring the wine.So come! Drink!Return to the root of the rootof your own soul.Soul of all souls, life of all life - you are That.Seen and unseen, moving and unmoving - you are That.The road that leads to the City is endless;Go without head and feetand you'll already be there.What else could you be? - you are That.”

“I want to see you.Know your voice.Recognize you when youfirst come 'round the corner.Sense your scent when I come into a room you've just left.Know the lift of your heel,the glide of your foot.Become familiar with the way you purse your lipsthen let them part, just the slightest bit,when I lean in to your spaceand kiss you.I want to know the joy of how you whisper "more”