I am reading Hafiz’s Little Book of Life, poetry by Hafiz-e Shirazi. He is challenging me to become more comfortable with ambiguity. I will share his poem and some of my thoughts on his poem (sometimes with the help of experts when the concepts are too hard for me), followed by a poem and some art inspired by his poem.

Hafiz’s Poem 43:

Life’s conditions
Constantly
Vary

Do not despair

Some thoughts:

This is another one that reminds me of an AA slogan. One of the sayings in that program is, “This too shall pass.” The circumstances we find ourselves in are constantly changing. We don’t have to necessarily identify with them, make them a part of our identity, or focus on them too much. It doesn’t say we are unaffected by the varying conditions. They might be difficult. They might deeply affect us. But they are not permanent. There is no need to be in the depths of despair, as Anne in Anne of Green Gables would say. It is not for forever, no matter how it feels in the moment.

The flip side of the equation is that fabulous conditions are also temporary. Not to be a wet blanket, but sometimes when things are going well, we expect them to stay wonderful forever. The reality is that there will always be ups and downs, dips and crests; that is just life. It is all part of the ride. And maybe the fluctuations are what remind us to cherish the good times.

My Poem 43:

This too shall pass
the needling uncertainty
pricking the skin from within
the insistent clamor that
it’s not enough
more must be done

Change is a constant
the swell of pride
perhaps undeserved
but so much better
than the crushing weight
of being a disappointment

Despair serves no purpose
save to root one
to permanent inactivity
rather screw courage
to the sticking place
so the arrow may fly

Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.