Doing Gender According to Hafiz

As I was getting my daily dose of Hafiz, I was surprised to find that he conceptualized gender as many modern scholars do (West & Zimmerman; J. Butler). We haven't advanced as much as we thought we had, we just weren't listening to the right voices.

How Does It Feel to Be a Heart?

Once a young woman asked me,

"How does it feel to be a man?"

And I replied,

"My dear,

I am not so sure."

Then she said,

"Well, aren't you a man?"

And I replied,

"I view gender

As a beautiful animal

That people often take for a walk on a leash

And might enter in some odd contest

To try to win strange prizes.

My dear,

A better question for Hafiz

Would have been,

'How does it feel to be a heart?'

For all I know is Love,

And I find my heart Infinite

And Everywhere!"