"Watch a One-Year-Old"

Watch a One-Year-Old

Anger rises when you're proud
of yourself. Humble that. Use

the contempt of others, and your
own self-regarding, to change, like

the cloud in folklore that became
three snake shapes. Or if you like

the dog-barking lion wrath, enjoy
the hurt longer. Watch a one-year-

old, how it walks, the slow wisdom
there. Sometimes a sweet taste

makes you sour and mean. Listen
to the voice that says, It was for

you I created the universe. Then
kill and be killed in love. You've

been two dogs dozing long enough!

-- Ghazal (Ode) 2198
Version by Coleman Barks
"The Soul of Rumi"
HarperSanFrancisco, 2001

"Watch a One-Year-Old"