It is dark -- to be sure
This darkness is heavy
It crushes the breath from my body
and rests on my face
with the weight of thousands of years of evil and hatred
If I opened my mouth
I could taste its bitter selfishness on my tongue

The stillness calms my struggle
until at last
I surrender
and am transformed
to ashes
and dust

Yet this darkness is no less diminished

I will hold you
to my heart
my love

I will gather you
to me
every broken bit
of dream
and soul
and heart
as you shed
the tears
and words
that have worn you
from whole
to pieces

I will hold you
to my heart
my love
in my heart

I will press my lips
against your pain
with fierce compassion
my embrace absorbing all
that makes you
wounded
aching
weary
until it turns
to whole
and hopeful
burned to beauty
by my love

I will free you
set you free
to wander on
the long-forgotten paths of joy
with laughter
in your smile
and step

But always
I will hold you
in my heart
my love
will hold you
love

Even after all this time
the sun never says to the earth,
"You owe Me."

Look what happens with
a love like that,
It lights the Whole Sky.

-Hafiz
from The Gift

Oh, faithless heart
do not betray me.

Do not break me
and the hearts of those I love.

My heart has broken
a thousand times
each poignantly unique
and crushing

My heart has healed
a thousand times
stronger
and more full of love

My heart does not wait
in hope
it clings
so that I am not lost

And I too am breathless
with belief
that all that has come before
has been to lead me here

I hear the trees sleeping
in hushed, rustling tones
soothed by the wind's gentle kisses
and the ancient lullaby of the stars

I am resurrected
by the sunlight of a new day

I warm
with hope transparent
as the softened yellow of a butterfly's wing

I flush
eager with the joy
of violet-red flowers
grown glorious by the holding
of their own light