tell me about the sunsets in sweden and the laws of eden...

I don't think anything hurts so bad as to be separated from someone you love. Tonight my heart hurts for people who live far from me and who I cannot hug or go to breakfast with or be obnoxiously loud together.

Here are two poems for you tonight that I would share with you if you were here with me sipping tea at 11:21pm on Thursday night...

The first is by Hafiz, and it is beautiful.

I Have Learned So Much


I
Have
Learned
So much from God
That I can no longer
Call
Myself

A Christian, a Hindu, a Muslim
A Buddhist, a Jew.

The Truth has shared so much of itself
With me

That I can no longer call myself
A man, a woman, an angel
Or even pure
Soul.

Love has
Befriended Hafiz so completely
It has turned to ash
And freed
Me

Of every concept and image
My mind has ever known.



And this one is written by Lawrence Raab. I hope you can hear my voice in it.

Since You Asked

Since you asked, let's make it dinner
at your house - a celebration
for no reason, which is always
the best occasion. Are you worried
there won't be enough space, enough food?

But in a poem we can do anything we want.
Look how easy it is to add on room, to multiply
the wine and chickens. And while we're at it
let's take those trees that died last winter
and bring them back to life.

Things should look pulled together,
and we could use the shade - so even now
they shudder and unfold their bright new leaves.
And now the guests are arriving - everyone
you expected, then others as well:

friends who never became your friends,
the women you didn't marry, all their children.
And the dead - I didn't tell you
but they're always included in these gatherings -
hesitant and shy they hang back at first

among th blossoming trees.
You have only to say their names,
ask them inside. Everyone will find a place
at your table. What more can I do?
The glasses are filled, the children are quiet.

My friend, it must be time for you to speak.