Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet, needs no introduction. Today’s choice, translated by Coleman Barks, is from Barks’ selection of poetry titled The Essential Rumi, from the section: “The Tavern: Whoever Brought Me Here Will Have to Take Me Home,” a situation most of us have, indeed, experienced:

Artwork by Lisa Dietrich (part of her Spirit Art collection): http://www.lisadietrich.com

“The Many Wines”

God has given us a dark wine so potent that
drinking it, we leave the two worlds.

God has put into the form of hashish a power
to deliver the taster from self-consciousness.

God has made sleep so
that it erases every thought.

God made Majnun love Layla so much that
just her dog would cause confusion in him.

There are thousands of wines
that can take over our minds.

Don’t think all ecstasies
are the same!

Jesus was lost in his love for God.
His donkey was drunk with barley.

Drink from the presence of saints,
not from those other jars.

Every object, every being,
is a jar full of delight.

Be a connoisseur,
and taste with caution.

Any wine will get you high.
Judge like a king, and choose the purest,

the ones unadulterated with fear,
or some urgency about “what’s needed.”

Drink the wine that moves you
as a camel moves when it’s been untied,
and is just ambling about.