REMOVING THE SHOE FROM THE TEMPLE

                                         Once someone asked me,
                           
                                "Why do saint seek divine annihilation
                                             And are often humble
                                     And like to spend their free time
                                              Upon their knees"?

                                                      I replied,

                                      "It is a simple matter of etiquette."

                                                Then they said,

                                        "What do you mean, Hafiz?"

                                               "Well," I continued,
                                          

                                     "When ones goes into a mosque or temple
                                            Is it not common to remove what
                                                        covers your
                                                              Feet?

                                                     So too does it happen
                                              With this whole mind and body-
                                               That is something like a shoe sole-
                                                      When one begins to realize
                                               Upon whom you are really standing,

                                                             On begins
                                                      To remove the 'shoe' from the
                                                               Temple."

                                                                                       HAFIZ