Since the beginning of time, all humans have acted
towards is interacting with each other. Language and word came into the timeline
of communication, making the act of interaction several folds easier. Into this
world of dynamic interactions, were born several magnificent humans who played
with words to get our hearts beating faster and our soul grinning. These artists
have moved the world using only pen and paper. One of such artists with
expertise in words was none other than Jalaluddin Rumi, a poet in the 13th
century. His words were so powerful and so glorious that centuries later,
people still venerate him. He and his words were way ahead of his time. He was
known to have a mind way above and beyond religions; which is evident though
the legendary story of his funeral wherein people from far, far away, belonging
to a repertoire of religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism,
Hinduism came in to offer their prayers. He unified the world in one way. Through
his words he portrayed a very divergent way of looking at the world. Here are a
few poems and quotes by Rumi which will not fail to touch one’s heart. His original
poems are in Arabic and here are a few English translations, which although
cannot do justice to his own words, still attempt to hold the meaning imparted
by him.
1)
GONE FOR GOOD
The
love ocean roils with praise,
And that
sound increases now
As I
end this and wait
For your
discourse to begin
2)
ANOTHER INVITATION
My mouth,
my entire body laughs
A
rose is all rose.
My loving
is here with you.
You come
before dawn with a torch
And take
me,
But my
soul remains
Back
there, alone.
Issue
another invitation.
Do not
ask for one without the other.
If you
do not go tonight
And bring
my soul to me,
I will
become a loud disruptive noise,
And will
not be making it alone.
3)
TWO LOVINGS
Soul
comes wearing a shape,
With
a fragrance, with the new green,
With
a trembling hand, with generosity.
No,
that implies a being apart.
Companion
and confessor at once
Red and
yellow, you join me
In the
gathering and you stay away.
You come
late.
You are
the source of lovings,
Fire
one day, ice another.
4)
A WAKING TOWN
The taste
of this life comes from you,
Soul
moving like a mountain stream
Under
a sky of flowers.
Seeing
such a beauty makes me
Expect
the dregs tomorrow.
I call
you he moon,
But
that is not right.
Does
anything resemble you?
The noise
of a waking town
Fills
my chest.
Shams
is saying this.
5)
MUSIC AND SILENCE
Lovers,
union is here,
The meeting
we have wanted
The fire,
the joy.
Let sadness
and any fear of death,
Leave
the room.
The sun’s
glory comes back.
Wind
shakes our bells.
We are
counters in your hand
Passing
easily through.
Music
begins.
Your
silence,
Deepen
that.
Were
you to put words with this,
We would
not survive this song.
6)
A WORLD NOT KNOWN
Out beyond
the ideas,
Of wrong
doing and right doing,
There
is a field,
I’ll
meet you there.
Where
the soul lies in that grass,
An the
world, is too full
To talk
about.
7)
HERE
The minute
I heard
My first
love story,
I started
looking for you.
Not knowing
How
blind I was.
Lovers
don’t finally meet
Somewhere.
They
are in each other
All along.
8)
STARS
We are
stars
Wrapped
in skin.
The light
You are
seeking
Has always
been
Within.
9)
YOU
I,
once
Had a
thousand desires,
But in
one desire,
To know
you,
All else
melted away.
With such thoughts tugging at your heart the
world seems like a wondrous place for some moments at least.
 |
| Jalaluddin Rumi |
Also read:Five Jews who changed the world
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