by Hafez (Sufi poet, circa 1350)
What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?
The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God
And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move
That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”
Whereas, my dear,
I’m afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.
I am indebted, for this poem, to Brother Joe Kilikevice, of the Shem Center in Chicago, and the two dozen-plus men I spent this past weekend with on a Male Spirit Retreat.
