SEEING BEAUTY - Photography as visual poetry, part 3

A Happy and Healthy New Year and may 2012 bring many positive changes!

Greetings, Susanne

Another excerpt and favorite poem from my book "Seeing Beauty - Photography as visual poetry"

(available at www.blurb.com or contact me directly)

WE HAVE NOT COME TO TAKE PRISONERS 

We have not come to take prisoners, 

But to surrender ever more deeply 

To freedom and joy. 

We have not come into this exquisite world 

To hold ourselves hostage from love. 

Run my dear, 

From anything 

That may not strengthen 

Your precious budding wings. 

Run like hell my dear, 

From anyone likely 

To put a sharp knife 

Into the sacred, tender vision 

Of your beautiful heart. 

We have a duty to befriend 

Those aspects of obedience 

That stand outside of our house 

And shout to our reason 

"O please, O please, 

Come out and play." 

For we have not come here to take prisoners 

Or to confine our wondrous spirits, 

But to experience ever and ever more deeply 

Our divine courage, freedom, and 

Light! 

(Hafiz) 

'The Gift' Poems by Hafiz - translations by Daniel Ladinsky

SEEING BEAUTY - Photography as visual poetry, part 2

More excerpts from my book "SEEING BEAUTY - Photography as visual poetry 

(available at www.blurb.com or contact me directly).

This is by far my favorite Hafiz poem.

Merry Christmas and many blessings, 

Love and Light - Susanne

EACH SOUL COMPLETES ME 

My Beloved said, 

"My name is not complete without yours." 

I thought: 

How could a human's worth ever be such? 

And God knowing all our thoughts - and all our 

thoughts are innocent steps on the path - 

then addressed my heart, 

God revealed 

a sublime truth to the world, 

when He sang, 

"I am made whole by your life.
Each soul, 

each soul completes 

me." 

(Hafiz) 

'Love Poems From God' by Daniel Ladinsky

SEEING BEAUTY - Photography as visual poetry, part 1

Over 2 years ago I published an online book (on Blurb, www.blurb.com) with the title 

"SEEING BEAUTY - Photography as visual poetry". I want to share some of it on this blog.

An excerpt from the introduction:

"I believe there is a beauty beyond our sense perceptions, a beauty both so profound and humbling, and I hope my photographs provide the viewer with an intimation, or reflection, of that beauty.

Mystical poetry is an important source of inspiration in my daily life. Poet saints such as Rumi and Hafiz speak about beauty and love in a way that transports me to a realm beyond words, lets me taste the divine - if only for a moment - and enables me to forget all worldly tribulations.

It only seems natural for me to combine my photographs with poetry, and very often it is as if the poem and image find each other in a magical way.

May this selection of photographs and poems lift your spirit and bring joy and healing into your life.

Art is the conversation between lovers.

Art offers an opening for the heart.

True art makes the divine silence in the soul

break into applause.

(Hafiz)

translation by Daniel Ladinsky