Not Here

There's courage involved if you want

to become truth.  

There is a broken- open place in a lover.  

Where are those qualities of bravery and

sharp compassion in this group?  What's the

use of old and frozen thought?  

I want a howling hurt.  This is not a treasury

where gold is stored; this is for copper.

We alchemists look for talent that

can heat up and change.  

Lukewarm won't do. Halfhearted holding back,

well-enough getting by?  Not here.

Excerpt rom the translations of Rumi by Coleman Barks.