Becoming Human

Once a man came to me and spoke for hours about
“His great visions of God” he felt he was having.

He asked me for confirmation, saying,
“Are these wondrous dreams true?”

I replied, “How many goats do you have?”

He looked surprised and said,
“I am speaking of sublime visions
And you ask
About goats!”

And I spoke again saying,
“Yes brother, how many do you have?”

“Well, Hafiz, I have sixty-two.”

“And how many wives?”
Again he looked surprised, then said,
“Four.”

“How many rosebushes in your garden,

How many children,
Are you parents still alive,
Do you feed the birds in winter?”

And to all he answered.

Then I said,
“You asked me if your visions were true,
I would say that they were if they make you become
More human,

More kind to every creature and plant
That you know.”

~ Hafiz