the contest of madness

you have done well
in the contest of madness.
you were brave in that war
you have all the honourable wounds
of one who has tried to find love
where the beautiful bird
does not drink

may i speak to you
like we are close and
locked away together?
once i found a stray kitten
and i used to soak my fingers
in warm milk,
it came to think i was five mothers
on one hand

traveler
why not rest your tired body?
lean back and close your eyes.

come morning
i will kneel by your side and feed you.
i will so gently
spread open your mouth
and let you taste something of my
mind and life

surely
there is something wrong
with your ideas of the
beloved
if you think
the beloved would not be so
tender


–Hafiz




thank you, thank you, thank you.
The right things come to me when I need them.