Wednesday 11 January 2012

Zero Circle by Rumi



Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Unable to say yes or no.
Then a stretcher will come from grace
to gather us up.


We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say we can, we’re lying.
If we say No, we don’t see it,
That No will behead us
And shut tight our window onto spirit.


So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.


(Rumi, 13th century Persian poet and mystic)

The 'new eyes' we are given and the connection we experience around poetry are such gifts. Some of my own poetry can be found here - I'd love you to read it.