3277. Poetry: We Have Not Come to Take Prisoners

By Hafiz (Khwāja Šamsu d-Dīn Muḥammad Hāfez-e Šīrāzī)

 We Have Not Come to Take Prisoners

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!