Eversince Happiness Heard Your Name

Demo, “Creativity Week”, Mii amo, Sedona, AZ, Sept. 22, 2005

Seals clockwise from top right: “The Master is the Real Mountain”; “Beauty”; “Open Heart”; “Love the Clouds”

China ink on xuan paper: 96.5 cm X 70.8 cm
Scroll: 107.6 cm X 181.3 cm

Marie-Pascal who has a warm voice, full of heart, chose and read the following Hafiz poem and I painted it:

“Ever since Happiness heard your name,
It has been running through the streets
Trying to find you.
And several times in the last week,
God Himself has even come to my door—
Asking me for your address!
Once I said,
‘God, I thought you know everything,
Why are you asking me
where your lovers live?’
And the Beloved replied,
‘indeed, Hafiz, I do know Everything—
But it is fun playing dumb once in a while,
And I love intimate chat
And the warmth of your heart’s fire.’
Maybe we should make this poem into a song
I think it has potential!
How does this refrain sound,
for I know it is true:
Ever since Happiness heard your name,
It has been running through the streets
Trying to find you.
And several times in the last week,
God Himself has come to my door—
So sweetly asking for your address,
Wanting the beautiful warmth
of your heart’s fire.”

translated by Daniel Ladinsky