Watch a One Year Old

Anger rises when you're proud
of yourself.

Humble that.

Use the contempt of others, and your
own self-regarding, to change,

like

the cloud in folklore that became
three snake shapes.

Or if you like

the dog-barking lion wrath,

enjoy
the hurt longer.

Watch a one-year-old,

how it walks,

the slow wisdom
there.

Sometimes a sweet taste makes you sour and mean.

Listen
to the voice that says,

It was for you I created the universe.

Then kill and be killed in love.

You've been two dogs dozing long enough!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2198
Version by Coleman Barks
"The Soul of Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 2001

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