SANDANDFOAM(firstpart)
SANDANDFOAM
Iamforeverwalkingupontheseshores,
Betwixtthesandandthefoam,
Thehightidewillerasemyfoot-prints,
Andthewindwillblowawaythefoam.
Buttheseaandtheshorewillremain
Forever.
OnceIfilledmyhandwithmist.
ThenIopeneditandlo,themistwasaworm.
AndIclosedandopenedmyhandagain,andbeholdtherewasabird.
AndagainIclosedandopenedmyhand,andinitshollowstoodamanwithasadface,turnedupward.
AndagainIclosedmyhand,andwhenIopenedittherewasnaughtbutmist.
ButIheardasongofexceedingsweetness.
ItwasbutyesterdayIthoughtmyselfafragmentquiveringwithoutrhythminthesphereoflife.
NowIknowthatIamthesphere,andalllifeinrhythmicfragmentsmoveswithinme.
Theysaytomeintheirawakening,"Youandtheworldyouliveinarebutagrainofsandupontheinfiniteshoreofaninfinitesea."
AndinmydreamIsaytothem,"Iamtheinfinitesea,andallworldsarebutgrainsofsanduponmyshore."
OnlyoncehaveIbeenmademute.Itwaswhenamanaskedme,"Whoareyou?"
ThefirstthoughtofGodwasanangel.
ThefirstwordofGodwasaman.
Wewerefluttering,wandering,longingcreaturesathousandthousandyearsbeforetheseaandthewindintheforestgaveuswords.
Nowhowcanweexpresstheancientofdaysinuswithonlythesoundsofouryesterdays?
TheSphinxspokeonlyonce,andtheSphinxsaid,"Agrainofsandisadesert,andadesertisagrainofsand;andnowletusallbesilentagain."
IheardtheSphinx,butIdidnotunderstand.
LongdidIlieinthedustofEgypt,silentandunawareoftheseasons.
Thenthesungavemebirth,andIroseandwalkeduponthebanksoftheNile,
Singingwiththedaysanddreamingwiththenights.
AndnowthesunthreadsuponmewithathousandfeetthatImaylieagaininthedustofEgypt.
Butbeholdamarvelandariddle!
Theverysunthatgatheredmecannotscatterme.
StillerectamI,andsureoffootdoIwalkuponthebanksoftheNile.
Remembranceisaformofmeeting.
Forgetfulnessisaformoffreedom.
Wemeasuretimeaccordingtothemovementofcountlesssuns;andtheymeasuretimebylittlemachinesintheirlittlepockets.
Nowtellme,howcouldweevermeetatthesameplaceandthesametime?
SpaceisnotspacebetweentheearthandthesuntoonewholooksdownfromthewindowsoftheMilkyWay.
Humanityisariveroflightrunningfromtheex-eternitytoeternity.
Donotthespiritswhodwellintheetherenvymanhispain?
OnmywaytotheHolyCityImetanotherpilgrimandIaskedhim,"IsthisindeedthewaytotheHolyCity?"
Andhesaid,"Followme,andyouwillreachtheHolyCityinadayandanight."
AndIfollowedhim.Andwewalkedmanydaysandmanynights,yetwedidnotreachtheHolyCity.
Andwhatwastomysurprisehebecameangrywithmebecausehehadmisledme.
Makeme,ohGod,thepreyofthelion,ereYoumaketherabbitmyprey.
Onemaynotreachthedawnsavebythepathofthenight.
Myhousesaystome,"Donotleaveme,forheredwellsyourpast."
Andtheroadsaystome,"Comeandfollowme,forIamyourfuture."
AndIsaytobothmyhouseandtheroad,"Ihavenopast,norhaveIafuture.IfIstayhere,thereisagoinginmystaying;andifIgothereisastayinginmygoing.Onlyloveanddeathwillchangeallthings."
HowcanIlosefaithinthejusticeoflife,whenthedreamsofthosewhosleepuponfeathersarenotmorebeautifulthanthedreamsofthosewhosleepupontheearth?Strange,thedesireforcertainpleasuresisapartofmypain.
SeventimeshaveIdespisedmysoul:
ThefirsttimewhenIsawherbeingmeekthatshemightattainheight.
ThesecondtimewhenIsawherlimpingbeforethecrippled.
Thethirdtimewhenshewasgiventochoosebetweenthehardandtheeasy,andshechosetheeasy.
Thefourthtimewhenshecommittedawrong,andcomfortedherselfthatothersalsocommitwrong.
Thefifthtimewhensheforboreforweakness,andattributedherpatiencetostrength.
Thesixthtimewhenshedespisedtheuglinessofaface,andknewnotthatitwasoneofherownmasks.
Andtheseventhtimewhenshesangasongofpraise,anddeemeditavirtue.
Iamignorantofabsolutetruth.ButIamhumblebeforemyignoranceandthereinliesmyhonourandmyreward.
Thereisaspacebetweenman'simaginationandman'sattainmentthatmayonlybetraversedbyhislonging.
Paradiseisthere,behindthatdoor,inthenextroom;butIhavelostthekey.
PerhapsIhaveonlymislaidit.
YouareblindandIamdeafanddumb,soletustouchhandsandunderstand.
Thesignificanceofmanisnotinwhatheattains,butratherinwhathelongstoattain.
Someofusarelikeinkandsomelikepaper.
Andifitwerenotfortheblacknessofsomeofus,someofuswouldbedumb;
Andifitwerenotforthewhitenessofsomeofus,someofuswouldbeblind.
GivemeanearandIwillgiveyouavoice.
Ourmindisasponge;ourheartisastream.
Isitnotstrangethatmostofuschoosesuckingratherthanrunning?
Whenyoulongforblessingsthatyoumaynotname,andwhenyougrieveknowingnotthecause,thenindeedyouaregrowingwithallthingsthatgrow,andrisingtowardyourgreaterself.
Whenoneisdrunkwithavision,hedeemshisfaintexpressionofittheverywine.
Youdrinkwinethatyoumaybeintoxicated;andIdrinkthatitmaysobermefromthatotherwine.
WhenmycupisemptyIresignmyselftoitsemptiness;butwhenitishalffullIresentitshalf-fullness.
Therealityoftheotherpersonisnotinwhatherevealstoyou,butinwhathecannotrevealtoyou.
Therefore,ifyouwouldunderstandhim,listennottowhathesaysbutrathertowhathedoesnotsay.
HalfofwhatIsayismeaningless;butIsayitsothattheotherhalfmayreachyou.
Asenseofhumourisasenseofproportion.
Mylonelinesswasbornwhenmenpraisedmytalkativefaultsandblamedmysilentvirtues.
WhenLifedoesnotfindasingertosingherheartsheproducesaphilosophertospeakhermind.
Atruthistobeknownalways,tobeutteredsometimes.
Therealinusissilent;theacquiredistalkative.
Thevoiceoflifeinmecannotreachtheearoflifeinyou;butletustalkthatwemaynotfeellonely.
Whentwowomentalktheysaynothing;whenonewomanspeakssherevealsalloflife.
Frogsmaybellowlouderthanbulls,buttheycannotdragtheploughinthefieldnotturnthewheelofthewinepress,andoftheirskinsyoucannotmakeshoes.
Onlythedumbenvythetalkative.
Ifwintershouldsay,"Springisinmyheart,"whowouldbelievewinter?
Everyseedisalonging.
Shouldyoureallyopenyoureyesandsee,youwouldbeholdyourimageinallimages.
Andshouldyouopenyourearsandlisten,youwouldhearyourownvoiceinallvoices.
Ittakestwoofustodiscovertruth:onetoutteritandonetounderstandit.
Thoughthewaveofwordsisforeveruponus,yetourdepthisforeversilent.
Manyadoctrineislikeawindowpane.Weseetruththroughitbutitdividesusfromtruth.
Nowletusplayhideandseek.Shouldyouhideinmyheartitwouldnotbedifficulttofindyou.Butshouldyouhidebehindyourownshell,thenitwouldbeuselessforanyonetoseekyou.Awomanmayveilherfacewithasmile.
Hownobleisthesadheartwhowouldsingajoyoussongwithjoyoushearts.
Hewhowouldunderstandawoman,ordissectgenius,orsolvethemysteryofsilenceistheverymanwhowouldwakefromabeautifuldreamtositatabreakfasttable.
Iwouldwalkwithallthosewhowalk.Iwouldnotstandstilltowatchtheprocessionpassingby.
Youowemorethangoldtohimwhoservesyou.Givehimofyourheartorservehim.
Nay,wehavenotlivedinvain.Havetheynotbuilttowersofourbones?
Letusnotbeparticularandsectional.Thepoet'smindandthescorpion'stailriseingloryfromthesameearth.
EverydragongivesbirthtoaSt.Georgewhoslaysit.
Treesarepoemsthattheearthwritesuponthesky.Wefellthemdownandturnthemintopaperthatwemayrecordouremptiness.
Shouldyoucaretowrite(andonlythesaintsknowwhyyoushould)youmustneedshaveknowledgeandartandmusic--theknowledgeofthemusicofwords,theartofbeingartless,andthemagicoflovingyourreaders.
Theydiptheirpensinourheartsandthinktheyareinspired.
Shouldatreewriteitsautobiographyitwouldnotbeunlikethehistoryofarace.
IfIweretochoosebetweenthepowerofwritingapoemandtheecstasyofapoemunwritten,Iwouldchoosetheecstasy.Itisbetterpoetry.
ButyouandallmyneighboursagreethatIalwayschoosebadly.
Poetryisnotanopinionexpressed.Itisasongthatrisesfromableedingwoundorasmilingmouth.
Wordsaretimeless.Youshouldutterthemorwritethemwithaknowledgeoftheirtimelessness.
Apoetisadethronedkingsittingamongtheashesofhispalacetryingtofashionanimageoutoftheashes.
Poetryisadealofjoyandpainandwonder,withadashofthedictionary.
Invainshallapoetseekthemotherofthesongsofhisheart.
OnceIsaidtoapoet,"Weshallnotknowyourworthuntilyoudie."
Andheansweredsaying,"Yes,deathisalwaystherevealer.AndifindeedyouwouldknowmyworthitisthatIhavemoreinmyheartthanuponmytongue,andmoreinmydesirethaninmyhand."
Ifyousingofbeautythoughaloneintheheartofthedesertyouwillhaveanaudience.
Poetryiswisdomthatenchantstheheart.
Wisdomispoetrythatsingsinthemind.
Ifwecouldenchantman'sheartandatthesametimesinginhismind,
ThenintruthhewouldliveintheshadowofGod.
Inspirationwillalwayssing;inspirationwillneverexplain.
Weoftensinglullabiestoourchildrenthatweourselvesmaysleep.
Allourwordsarebutcrumbsthatfalldownfromthefeastofthemind.
Thinkingisalwaysthestumblingstonetopoetry.
Agreatsingerishewhosingsoursilences.
Howcanyousingifyourmouthbefilledwithfood?
Howshallyourhandberaisedinblessingifitisfilledwithgold?
Theysaythenightingalepierceshisbosomwithathornwhenhesingshislovesong.
Sodoweall.Howelseshouldwesing?
Geniusisbutarobin'ssongatthebeginningofaslowspring.
Eventhemostwingedspiritcannotescapephysicalnecessity.
Amadmanisnotlessamusicianthanyouormyself;onlytheinstrumentonwhichheplaysisalittleoutoftune.
Thesongthatliessilentintheheartofamothersingsuponthelipsofherchild.
Nolongingremainsunfulfilled.
Ihaveneveragreedwithmyotherselfwholly.Thetruthofthematterseemstoliebetweenus.
Yourotherselfisalwayssorryforyou.Butyourotherselfgrowsonsorrow;soalliswell.
Thereisnostruggleofsoulandbodysaveinthemindsofthosewhosesoulsareasleepandwhosebodiesareoutoftune.
Whenyoureachtheheartoflifeyoushallfindbeautyinallthings,evenintheeyesthatareblindtobeauty.
Weliveonlytodiscoverbeauty.Allelseisaformofwaiting.
Sowaseedandtheearthwillyieldyouaflower.Dreamyourdreamtotheskyanditwillbringyouyourbeloved.
Thedevildiedtheverydayyouwereborn.
Nowyoudonothavetogothroughhelltomeetanangel.
Manyawomanborrowsaman'sheart;veryfewcouldpossessit.
Ifyouwouldpossessyoumustnotclaim.
Whenaman'shandtouchesthehandofawomantheybothtouchtheheartofeternity.
Loveistheveilbetweenloverandlover.
Everymanlovestwowomen;theoneisthecreationofhisimagination,andtheotherisnotyetborn.
Menwhodonotforgivewomentheirlittlefaultswillneverenjoytheirgreatvirtues.
Lovethatdoesnotrenewitselfeverydaybecomesahabitandinturnaslavery.
Loversembracethatwhichisbetweenthemratherthaneachother.
Loveanddoubthaveneverbeenonspeakingterms.
Loveisawordoflight,writtenbyahandoflight,uponapageoflight.
Friendshipisalwaysasweetresponsibility,neveranopportunity.
Ifyoudonotunderstandyourfriendunderallconditionsyouwillneverunderstandhim.
Yourmostradiantgarmentisoftheotherperson'sweaving;
Youmostsavourymealisthatwhichyoueatattheotherperson'stable;
Yourmostcomfortablebedisintheotherperson'shouse.
Nowtellme,howcanyouseparateyourselffromtheotherperson?
Yourmindandmyheartwillneveragreeuntilyourmindceasestoliveinnumbersandmyheartinthemist.
Weshallneverunderstandoneanotheruntilwereducethelanguagetosevenwords.
Howshallmyheartbeunsealedunlessitbebroken?
Onlygreatsorroworgreatjoycanrevealyourtruth.
Ifyouwouldberevealedyoumusteitherdancenakedinthesun,orcarryyourcross.
Shouldnatureheedwhatwesayofcontentmentnoriverwouldseekthesea,andnowinterwouldturntoSpring.Shouldsheheedallwesayofthrift,howmanyofuswouldbebreathingthisair?
Youseebutyourshadowwhenyouturnyourbacktothesun.
Youarefreebeforethesunoftheday,andfreebeforethestarsofthenight;
Andyouarefreewhenthereisnosunandnomoonandnostar.
Youareevenfreewhenyoucloseyoureyesuponallthereis.
Butyouareaslavetohimwhomyoulovebecauseyoulovehim,
Andaslavetohimwholovesyoubecausehelovesyou.
Weareallbeggarsatthegateofthetemple,andeachoneofusreceiveshisshareofthebountyoftheKingwhenheentersthetemple,andwhenhegoesout.
Butwearealljealousofoneanother,whichisanotherwayofbelittlingtheKing.
Youcannotconsumebeyondyourappetite.Theotherhalfoftheloafbelongstotheotherperson,andthereshouldremainalittlebreadforthechanceguest.
Ifitwerenotforyourguestsallhouseswouldbegraves.
Saidagraciouswolftoasimplesheep,"Willyounothonourourhousewithavisit?"
Andthesheepanswered,"Wewouldhavebeenhonouredtovisityourhouseifitwerenotinyourstomach."
Istoppedmyguestonthethresholdandsaid,"Nay,wipenotyourfeetasyouenter,butasyougoout."
GenerosityisnotingivingmethatwhichIneedmorethanyoudo,butitisingivingmethatwhichyouneedmorethanIdo.
Youareindeedcharitablewhenyougive,andwhilegiving,turnyourfaceawaysothatyoumaynotseetheshynessofthereceiver.
Thedifferencebetweentherichestmanandthepoorestisbutadayofhungerandanhourofthirst.
Weoftenborrowfromourtomorrowstopayourdebtstoouryesterdays.
Itooamvisitedbyangelsanddevils,butIgetridofthem.
WhenitisanangelIprayanoldprayer,andheisbored;
WhenitisadevilIcommitanoldsin,andhepassesmeby.
Afterallthisisnotabadprison;butIdonotlikethiswallbetweenmycellandthenextprisoner'scell;
YetIassureyouthatIdonotwishtoreproachthewardernottheBuilderoftheprison.
Thosewhogiveyouaserpentwhenyouaskforafish,mayhavenothingbutserpentstogive.Itisthengenerosityontheirpart.
Trickerysucceedssometimes,butitalwayscommitssuicide.
Youaretrulyaforgiverwhenyouforgivemurdererswhoneverspillblood,thieveswhoneversteal,andliarswhoutternofalsehood.
HewhocanputhisfingeruponthatwhichdividesgoodfromevilishewhocantouchtheveryhemofthegarmentofGod.
Ifyourheartisavolcanohowshallyouexpectflowerstobloominyourhands?