false 128436 0142196126 9780142196120 184 36 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171953807m/128436.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/128436.Love_Poems_from_God_Twelve_Sacred_Voices_from_the_East_and_West 41241 Daniel Ladinsky 189 36 5 0 false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 01 10:44:25 -0700 2008 Wed Apr 09 15:43:43 -0700 2008
It is possible to see traces of this history in many of her writings, which speak of living with beauty and dignity in the midst of the strange places we may find that God has placed us. She gently hints at the freedom that comes from learning to love all those things that frighten us. She speaks always of God as her Lover and her Beloved and she says "I still longed to kiss Him, even when God said 'Could you also kiss the hand that caused each scar, for you will not find me until you do.'"

Some of her poetry is rather shocking when I think about what it might have meant in the context of her life. I don't think I would dare to say the things that she says. I would never expect someone to forgive what she forgave, but I am nonetheless in awe of the beauty that she forged out of her suffering.

The Way the Forest Shelters

I know about love the way the fields know about light,
the way the forest shelters.

The way an animal's divine raw desire seeks to unite with
whatever might please its soul--without a single
strange thought
of remorse.

There is a powerful delegation within us
that lobbies every moment for
contentment.

How will you ever find peace
unless you yield to love

the way the gracious earth
does to our hand's
impulse.

Although she finds peace in accepting the suffering that she cannot avoid, she does not let God off the hook either:

I Hope God Thinks Like That

There is a dog I sometimes take for a walk
and turn loose in a field.

When I can't give her that freedom
I feel in debt.

I hope God thinks like that and

is keeping track
of all the bliss
He owes
me.

I am tempted to type in all of her poems here, but I will close with one that I like because of its emphasis on finding God in the simple, everyday things:

Slicing Potatoes

It helps,
putting my hands on a pot, on a broom
in a wash
pail.

I tried painting
but it was easier to fly slicing
potatoes.

I still have 11 more sacred voices to look forward to, but I am not yet ready to leave Rabia behind.

... I was once a sleeping ocean
and in a dream became
jealous of a
pond
...
Until we know that God lives in us
and we can see Him
there,

a great poverty
we suffer.

(Am I going to get in trouble for quoting entire poems here? If so, let me know, and I will delete them. I beg your indulgence, Daniel Ladinsky and Penguin, and am ever grateful to you for bringing Rabia into my life.)]]>