The Gift

<b>Chosen by author Elizabeth Gilbert as one of her ten favorite books Daniel Ladinsky&#146;s extraordinary renderings of 250 unforgettable lyrical poems by Hafiz one of the greatest Sufi poets of all time<br></b><br>More than any other Persian poet<b>&#151;</b>even Rumi<b>&#151;</b>Hafiz expanded the mystical healing dimensions of poetry. Because his poems were often ecstatic love songs from God to his beloved world many have called Hafiz the &#147;Invisible Tongue.&#148; Indeed Daniel Ladinsky has said that his work with Hafiz is an attempt to do the impossible: to render Light into words<b>&#151;</b>to make the Luminous Resonance of God tangible to our finite senses.<br><br><i>I am<br>a hole in a flute<br>that the Christ's breath moves<br>through</i>&#151;<br><i>listen to this<br>music!<br></i><br>With this stunning collection of Hafiz&#146;s most intimate poems Ladinsky has succeeded brilliantly in presenting the essence of one of Islam&#146;s greatest poetic and religious voices. Each line of <i>The Gift </i>imparts the wonderful qualities of this master Sufi poet and spiritual teacher: encouragement an audacious love that touches lives profound knowledge generosity and a sweet playful genius unparalleled in world literature.