To Build a Swing by Hafiz

Written by Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky | Link to poem here

Hey everyone,

I flew down to Texas last week to interview my friend Suzy Batiz for 3 Books. Suzy is probably best known as founder of the billion-dollar company Poo~Pourri … but her story is much, much bigger than that and one I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. I can’t wait to share it with you on the next full moon.

When we did the interview in the massive otherworldly church she lives in I noticed a long quote by fourteenth-century Persian poet Hafiz seemingly chiseled out of metal placed on a light box in her kitchen. She told me her daughter called her excitedly one day and said “Mom, if you were a poem you would be this one.” She had her daughter write it out and had those words emblazoned on this stunning sign. The photo below is shared with permission and, you know, horribly blurry. But I pasted the words — the lyrics!? — right below.

See if it hits you like it did me. This one comes from The Gift by Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky. I’m just getting into Hafiz. Only 700 years late to the party. Do you have a favorite poem or quote by him? If so, just reply and let me know.

And most importantly: keep mixing, mixing…

Neil

To Build a Swing

You carry
All the ingredients
To turn your life into a nightmare-
Don’t mix them!

You have all the genius
To build a swing in your backyard
For God.
That sounds
Like a hell of a lot more fun.

Let’s start laughing, drawing blueprints,
Gathering our talented friends.
I will help you.
With my divine lyre and drum.

Hafiz
Will sing a thousand words,
You can take into your hands,
Like golden saws,
Sliver hammers,
Polished teakwood,
Strong silk rope.

You carry all the ingredients
To turn your existence into joy,
Mix them
Mix them!