“We have not come here 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 of our house
And shout to our reason
“Oh please, oh 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

One of my favorite passages from Sufi poet, Khajeh Shamseddin Mohammad Hafiz – a reminder of our heart’s most exquisite risk.

That we might learn to surrender to those little things which help to shape our wings.

To live the life we always dreamed, but never dared.

To experience “ever and ever more deeply” this warmth of light which fills our soul.

Some may call it our ‘divine right’, an obligation – a ‘duty to befriend.’ That we may, never once, confine our wondrous spirit – but rather, take flight into these arms of love.