شب یلدا

Last night, I joined with Iranian friends in Oman to celebrate the Persian festival of Yalda — a winter solstice tradition with Zoroastrian roots. To mark the occasion, we read from the Sufi poetry of Hafiz and feasted on delicious Persian treats. Our festive gathering in the park reminded me of my pilgrimage to the legendary gardens and shrine of Hafiz in Shiraz…

The Truth has shared so much of Itself
With me

That I can no longer call myself
A man, a woman, an angel,
Or even a pure
Soul.

Love has
Befriended Hafiz so completely
It has turned to ash
And freed
Me

Of every concept and image
my mind has ever known.

— Hafiz