a poem for a sunday

Portland. This is some kind of town. Powell's. What more could a girl want. Truly, I am ready to move in. All I need is a pillow and I would be good to go (they have yoga mats, food, coffee, and more books than I could read in six lifetimes...but I sure would like to try). They had a poetry reading while we were there Saturday afternoon...I walked out with five new books of poetry...more on all of this soon, but I wanted to share a poem from a poet my brother introduced me to this weekend.

The Vintage Man

The
Difference
Between a good artist
And a great one

Is:

The novice
Will often lay down his tool
Or brush

Then pick up an invisible club
On the mind’s table

And helplessly smash the easels and
Jade.

Whereas the vintage man
No longer hurts himself or anyone

And keeps on
Sculpting

Light.

Hafiz

(from The Gift: Poems by Hafiz the Great Sufi Master translations by Daniel Ladinsky)

Comments

[gkgirl]

wow...
this is very interesting...
i like the sparseness of the words...

thanks for sharing it
:)

[Shannon (Sentimental)]

Liz, what a beautiful pick, thanks for sharing. Happy Easter!

[Kara]

wow, that is wonderful.

[Marilyn]

GREAT poem! I'm smiling...because how could you NOT love Powell's, right?! (That's why I always link to powells.com when I list books in a post...Amazon doesn't need any more business...we need to keep Powell's in business!) :)

[Jason Boog]

This site really put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing all this great poetry. It's so refreshing to see such a friendly community too...

[Jason Boog]

I'll keep reading...

[M]

Wow what a weekend! I'm so jealous you are getting to meet all the sisterhood- wish I was closer too! And Powell's looks amazing, I think Vancouver lacks in funky bookstores. Glad you are having happy days!

[Kristine]

Great poem!

[HoBess]

I'm printing this ... now! Hope you had a great trip!

[GreenishLady]

Yes. Hafiz and Rumi, Rumi and Hafiz. Aaaaah. Thank you.

[mikaelah]

This poem is a wonderful find. I am grateful I stopped in this morning. Have a great day!

[la vie en rose]

oh wow! i need to remember this one and stop my own form of self-bashing.

i want to know all about the new books!!!

[Colorsonmymind]

Ahhhhhh!

Powerful.

[Jana B]

Wow...

*pondering this*

[Bohemian Girl]

this really spoke to me.

vintage zen indeed.