Daniel Ladinsky's ecstatic, light-filled, and at times irreverent renderings of the great Sufi poet Hafiz are a pure delight. "To Build a Swing" is to be sung with joy and abandon. The predominant 9/8 (3+2+2+2) has an off kilter "swing" that matches the playfulness of the text
You carry
All the ingredients
To turn your life into a nightmare-
Don't mix them!
You have all the genius
to build a swing in your backyard
for God.
That sounds
Like a hell of a lot more fun.
Let's start laughing,
drawing blueprints,
Gathering our talented friends.
I will help you
With my divine
lyre and drum.
Hafiz
Will sing a thousand words
You can take into your hands,
Like golden saws,
Silver hammers,
Polished teakwood,
Strong silk rope.
You carry all the ingredients
To turn existence into joy,
Mix them,
mix
Them!
Daniel Ladinsky's ecstatic, light-filled, and at times irreverent renderings of the great Sufi poet Hafiz are a pure delight. "To Build a Swing" is to be sung with joy and abandon. The predominant 9/8 (3+2+2+2) has an off kilter "swing" that matches the playfulness of the text