KHAJU BRIDGE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaju_Bridge

17th Century Bridge in Iran.  Mentioned in the book:  Rumi:  Bridge to the Soul

Welcome to the Guest House

This business of being human is a guest house,
every morning, a new visitor.
I welcome all in.
Sadness?
I welcome you.  I turn no one away.
Anger?  Welcome.  For a while, you can stay.
Every loss.  Every injustice, every betrayal,
I accept you, I love you.
Come into my heart now.
It is over.  It is safe now.
Rest and be at peace.

And now the hardest,
shame.  I see arrogance, jealousy,
resentment, self pity, denial.

Welcome and entertain them all.
Treat each as a guest and treat 
them honorably.

Each dark thought I meet at the door,
laughing, delighted.
Grateful for whatever it is to become.

Rumi: "This Too Shall Pass"

This Morning

This morning,

I woke up singing,

As I thought of the soul

of poetry--

the soul

that was captured by Rumi,

Inspiring people for 800

years.

Perhaps Ram Dass

put it best--

"At the end of our wanderings,

there is only the soul's yearning

to return to God.

No one speaks that yearning

better than Rumi..." 

Morning, view from my backyard