March 10th, 2026

In a Mood for Sufi Poetry ? 

Etty Hillesum below 

Kabir

“The river that flows in you also flows in me.”

  Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.

My shoulder is against yours.

you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine

rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals:

not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding

around your own neck, nor in eating nothing but vegetables.

When you really look for me, you will see me instantly —

you will find me in the tiniest house of time.

Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?

He is the breath inside the breath.–

                                 

Hafez 

The Great Secret

God was full of Wine last night,

So full of wine

That He let a great secret slip.

He said:

There is no man on earth

Who needs a pardon from Me –

For there is really no such thing,

No such thing

As Sin!

That Beloved has gone completely Wild-He has poured Himself into me!

I am Blissful and Drunk and Overflowing.

Dear world,

Draw life from my Sweet Body,

Dear wayfaring souls,

Come drink your fill of liquid rubies,

For God has made my heart

An Eternal Fountain!l Times in the Last Week

Several Times in the Last Week

:

Ever since Happiness heard your name,
It has been running through the streets

Trying to find you.

And several times in the last week,
God Himself has come to my door-
So sweetly asking for your address,
Wanting the beautiful warmth of your heart’s fire.

Why Carry?

Why carry a whole load of books
Upon your back
Climbing this mountain,
When tonight,
Just a few thoughts of God
Will light the holy fire.

Rumi

Whoever Brought Me Here

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.

My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I’ll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I’m like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.

The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?
Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.

If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn’t come here of my own accord, and I can’t 

leave that way.

Whoever brought me here, will have to take me home.

This poetry. I never know what I’m going to say.

I don’t plan it.

When I’m outside the saying of it,

I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

Etty Hillesum

I feel that I am still tied by a thousand threads to everything I treasure here. I will have to tear myself away bit by bit and store everything inside me, so that when I have to leave I shall not abandon anything but carry it all with me. There are moments when I feel like a little bird, tucked away in a great protective hand.

אני עדיין קשורה באלפי עבותות לכל מה שיקר לי כאן עלי לקרוע את עצמי מהם, פיסה אחר פיסה, ולאצור הכול בתוכי, כדי שכשיהיה עלי ללכת מכאן לא אנטוש דבר, אלא אאצור את הכול בתוכי. לרגעים אני חשה כמו גוזל שמסתתר לו בכף יד גדולה ומגינה.

أشعر أنني ما زلت مرتبطة بآلاف الخيال بكل شيء تمين لي هنا علي أن أفصل نفسي شيئا فشيئا وأخزن كل شيء بداخلي عندها عندما يكون علي أن أغادر لن أضطر إلى التخلي عن أي شيء بل أحملها جميعها بداخلي. هنالك لحظات التي أشعر بها وكأنني عصفورة صغيرة موضوعة بعيدا في يد كبيرة حامية.