I Am Lowering My veins and Roots...

A Singing Cleaning Woman

A leaf says,

“Sweethearts – don’t pick me,

For I am busy doing

God’s work.

I am lowering my veins and roots

Like ropes

With buckets tied to them

Into the earth’s deep

Lake.

I am drawing water

That I offer like a rose to

The sky.

I am a singing cleaning woman

Dusting all the shelves in

The air

With my elegant green

Rags.

I have a heart.

I can know happines like

You.”

-Hafiz

Translated by Daniel Ladinsky