
“Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.”
~ Hafiz
Khājeh Shams-od-Dīn Moḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī (Persian: خواجه شمسالدین محمد حافظ شیرازی), known by his pen nameHafez (حافظ Ḥāfeẓ lit. ’the memorizer’ or ‘the keeper’; 1325–1390) or Hafiz,[1] also known by his nickname lesān-al-ḡayb (‘the tongue of the unseen’),[2] was a Persianlyric poet[3][4] whose collected works are regarded by many Iranians as one of the highest pinnacles of Persian literature. His works are often found in the homes of Persian speakers, who learn his poems by heart and use them as everyday proverbs and sayings. His life and poems have become the subjects of much analysis, commentary, and interpretation, influencing post-14th century Persian writing more than any other Persian author.[5][6] (Wikipedia.org)
Hafiz is my favorite! My favorite book of hundreds is The Gift, translated by Daniel Ladinsky. I started turning down a page for a poem I loved. Now, one of three pages or more is turned,
some 2 or even 3 times. The fun thing is, I keep turning pages even after years.
“A poet is someone who can pour light into a cup, then raise it to nourish your beautiful, parched, holy mouth!