IT CUTS THE PLOW REINS

            What does the Purity do?
            It cuts the plow reins.

It frees you from working and dinning
                 In the mud

      It frees you from living behind
                 A big ox
       That is always breaking wind.

      What can Purity do, my dear?

           It can lift your heart
       On a rising, bucking Sun
     That makes the soul hunger
   To reach the roof of Creation

It offers what the whole world wants-
      Real Knowledge and Power.

    It offers what the wise crave-
  The priceless treasure of Freedom.

  Pure Divine Love is no meek priest
                  Or tight banker.
      It will smash all your windows
And only then throw in the holy gifts.

      It will allow you to befriend
      Life and light and sanity-

     And not even mind waking
               To another day.

It reveals the excitement of the Present
        And the beauty of Precision.
It confers vitality and a sublime clarity

     Until finally all the heart can do
                   Is burst open
       With great love and laughter!

                   O Purity,
O dear Truth and Friend within me,
    Why didn't you tell me sooner
           You could do all this-

          Cut the reins of illusion,

                   So we can all
                    Just go wild
                   Loving God
            And everyone all day!


HAFIZ