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The Love Poems of Rumi
Born Jalal ad-Din Mohammed Balkhi in Persia early in the thirteenth century, the poet known as Rumi expressed the deepest feelings of the heart through his poetry. This volume consists of new translations edited by Deepak Chopra to evoke the rich mood and music of Rumi's love poems. Exalted yearning, ravishing ecstasy, and consuming desire emerge from these poems as powerfully today as they did on their creation more than 700 years ago.
'These poems reflect the deepest longings of the human heart as it searches for the divine. They celebrate love. Each poetic whisper is urgent, expressing the desire that penetrates human relationships and inspires intimacy with the self, silently nurturing an affinity for the Beloved. Both Fereydoun Kia, the translator, and I hope that you will share the experience of ravishing ecstasy that the poems of Rumi evoked in us. In this volume we have sought to capture in English the dreams, wishes, hopes, desires, and feelings of a Persian poet who continues to amaze, bewilder, confound, and teach, one thousand years after he walked on this earth' - Deepak Chopra
'These poems reflect the deepest longings of the human heart as it searches for the divine. They celebrate love. Each poetic whisper is urgent, expressing the desire that penetrates human relationships and inspires intimacy with the self, silently nurturing an affinity for the Beloved. Both Fereydoun Kia, the translator, and I hope that you will share the experience of ravishing ecstasy that the poems of Rumi evoked in us. In this volume we have sought to capture in English the dreams, wishes, hopes, desires, and feelings of a Persian poet who continues to amaze, bewilder, confound, and teach, one thousand years after he walked on this earth' - Deepak Chopra
64 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1273
590 people are currently reading
14400 people want to read
About the author
Deepak Chopra
690 books19.1k followersDeepak Chopra, MD serves as the Founder and Chairman of The Chopra Foundation, and Co-Founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing.
As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Chopra transforms the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Known as a prolific author of eighty books books with twenty-two New York Times best sellers in both fiction and non-fiction, his works have been published in more than forty-three languages.
Chopra’s medical training is in internal medicine and endocrinology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Dr. Chopra serves as Co-Founder and Chairman of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Founder of The Chopra Well on YouTube, Adjunct Professor of Executive Programs at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, Columbia University, Assistant Clinical Professor, in the Family and Preventive Medicine Department at the University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, Faculty at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Senior Scientist with The Gallup Organization.
GlobeIn acknowledges Chopra as "one of top ten most influential spiritual leaders around the world." TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as "one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine."
As a global leader and pioneer in the field of mind-body medicine, Chopra transforms the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness. Known as a prolific author of eighty books books with twenty-two New York Times best sellers in both fiction and non-fiction, his works have been published in more than forty-three languages.
Chopra’s medical training is in internal medicine and endocrinology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Dr. Chopra serves as Co-Founder and Chairman of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Founder of The Chopra Well on YouTube, Adjunct Professor of Executive Programs at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, Columbia University, Assistant Clinical Professor, in the Family and Preventive Medicine Department at the University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, Faculty at Walt Disney Imagineering, and Senior Scientist with The Gallup Organization.
GlobeIn acknowledges Chopra as "one of top ten most influential spiritual leaders around the world." TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as "one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as "the poet-prophet of alternative medicine."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 456 reviews
July 29, 2017
Looking For Your Face
From the beginning of my life
I have been looking for your face
but today I have seen it
Today I have seen
the charm, the beauty,
the unfathomable grace
of the face
that I was looking for
Today I have found you
and those who laughed
and scorned me yesterday
are sorry that they were not looking
as I did
I am bewildered by the magnificence
of your beauty
and wish to see you
with a hundred eyes
My heart has burned with passion
and has searched forever
for this wondrous beauty
that I now behold
I am ashamed
to call this love human
and afraid of God
to call it divine
Your fragrant breath
like the morning breeze
has come to the stillness of the garden
You have breathed new life into me
I have become your sunshine
and also your shadow
My soul is screaming in ecstasy
Every fiber of my being
is in love with you
Your effulgence
has lit a fire in my heart
for me
the earth and sky
My arrow of love
has arrived at the target
I am in the house of mercy
and my heart
is a place of prayer
From the beginning of my life
I have been looking for your face
but today I have seen it
Today I have seen
the charm, the beauty,
the unfathomable grace
of the face
that I was looking for
Today I have found you
and those who laughed
and scorned me yesterday
are sorry that they were not looking
as I did
I am bewildered by the magnificence
of your beauty
and wish to see you
with a hundred eyes
My heart has burned with passion
and has searched forever
for this wondrous beauty
that I now behold
I am ashamed
to call this love human
and afraid of God
to call it divine
Your fragrant breath
like the morning breeze
has come to the stillness of the garden
You have breathed new life into me
I have become your sunshine
and also your shadow
My soul is screaming in ecstasy
Every fiber of my being
is in love with you
Your effulgence
has lit a fire in my heart
for me
the earth and sky
My arrow of love
has arrived at the target
I am in the house of mercy
and my heart
is a place of prayer
April 22, 2017
I think Rumi's poetry is unsurpassed in its mysticism and beauty.
"In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems."
"You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,"
"but sometimes I do, and that
sight becomes this art." pg 62
When my husband and I were first dating, we lived in different parts of the country. This was one of the books he sent when he found out that I loved poetry. He bought himself a copy too and we read it together- separately. Then we talked about it on the phone later. This was in the days before Skype or Facetime. It seems so quaint now.
"I desire you
more than food
or drink"
"My body
my senses
my mind
hunger for your taste"
"I can sense your presence
in my heart
although you belong
to all the world"
"I wait
with silent passion
for one gesture
one glance
from you" pg 34
I'll be married for 11 years this May.
If you ever meet someone romantically interesting who tells you they like poetry, buy them a book of Rumi. You won't regret it- at least, my husband says he doesn't. :)
"In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems."
"You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,"
"but sometimes I do, and that
sight becomes this art." pg 62
When my husband and I were first dating, we lived in different parts of the country. This was one of the books he sent when he found out that I loved poetry. He bought himself a copy too and we read it together- separately. Then we talked about it on the phone later. This was in the days before Skype or Facetime. It seems so quaint now.
"I desire you
more than food
or drink"
"My body
my senses
my mind
hunger for your taste"
"I can sense your presence
in my heart
although you belong
to all the world"
"I wait
with silent passion
for one gesture
one glance
from you" pg 34
I'll be married for 11 years this May.
If you ever meet someone romantically interesting who tells you they like poetry, buy them a book of Rumi. You won't regret it- at least, my husband says he doesn't. :)
January 13, 2024
From the beginning of my life
I have been looking for your face
but today I have seen it
Today I have seen
the charm, the beauty,
the unfathomable grace
of the face
that I was looking for
Today I have found you
and those who laughed
and scorned me yesterday
are sorry that they were not looking
as I did
I am bewildered by the magnificence
of your beauty
and wish to see you
with a hundred eyes
My heart has burned with passion
and has searched forever
for this wondrous beauty
that I now behold
I am ashamed
to call this love human
and afraid of God
to call it divine
Your fragrant breath
like the morning breeze
has come to the stillness of the garden
You have breathed new life into me
I have become your sunshine
and also your shadow
___________
In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do, and that
sight becomes this art.
I have been looking for your face
but today I have seen it
Today I have seen
the charm, the beauty,
the unfathomable grace
of the face
that I was looking for
Today I have found you
and those who laughed
and scorned me yesterday
are sorry that they were not looking
as I did
I am bewildered by the magnificence
of your beauty
and wish to see you
with a hundred eyes
My heart has burned with passion
and has searched forever
for this wondrous beauty
that I now behold
I am ashamed
to call this love human
and afraid of God
to call it divine
Your fragrant breath
like the morning breeze
has come to the stillness of the garden
You have breathed new life into me
I have become your sunshine
and also your shadow
___________
In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest,
where no one sees you,
but sometimes I do, and that
sight becomes this art.
September 16, 2009
Both light and shadow
are the dance of Love.
Love has no cause;
it is the astrolabe of God’s secrets.
Lover and Loving are inseparable
and timeless.
Although I may try to describe Love
when I experience it I am speechless.
Although I may try to write about Love
I am rendered helpless;
my pen breaks and the paper slips away
at the ineffable place
where Lover, Loving and Loved are one.
Every moment is made glorious
by the light of Love.
are the dance of Love.
Love has no cause;
it is the astrolabe of God’s secrets.
Lover and Loving are inseparable
and timeless.
Although I may try to describe Love
when I experience it I am speechless.
Although I may try to write about Love
I am rendered helpless;
my pen breaks and the paper slips away
at the ineffable place
where Lover, Loving and Loved are one.
Every moment is made glorious
by the light of Love.
October 7, 2024
One of my favorite poets - love to read different translations of his work - nice introduction to this illuminated master. There is an intimacy to Rumi that I have found in very few poets; an intimacy that is born of suffering and desire, and the understanding that this suffering is both a blessing and a curse. Transcendent and hauntingly beautiful.
October 28, 2021
It’s so clear that he poured his beautiful heart and soul into his poems, and these seemed more evident than ever.
June 28, 2015
***3.5 StArS***
**I*N*S*P*I*R*I*N*G** &
**J.U.S.T.***A***L*I*T*T*L*E***B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L**
**I*N*S*P*I*R*I*N*G** &
**J.U.S.T.***A***L*I*T*T*L*E***B*E*A*U*T*I*F*U*L**
April 25, 2010
Yes, the cause of all human emotional sicknesses is lack of love.
March 5, 2014
كتاب قصير وجميل يحتوى على مجموعة قصائد فى الحب والحياة ..
أعجبنتى القصيدة :
You are the drop, and the ocean.
You are kindness, you are anger,
You are sweetness, you are poison.
Do not make me more disheartened.
You are the chamber of the Sun,
You are the abode of Venus,
You are the garden of all hope.
Oh, Beloved, let me enter.
You are daylight, you are fasting,
You are the fruit of misery,
You are water, you are the bowl,
Oh, give me some water this time.
You are the grain of wheat, the snare,
You are the wine, you are the cup,
Raw you are, and cooked too you are.
Oh, do not leave me quite so raw.
You, the sudden resurrection,
You, the everlasting mercy,
You, who comes forth bringing fire
Into the dry wood of my thoughts.
You, the chamberlain of the sun,
You, who merit every hope,
You, whom we seek, and you who seek,
You, the end and the beginning.
والجزء الفريد فى العشق والحب :
Without you, I cannot.
You are my wine, my joy,
My garden, my springtime,
My slumber, my repose,
Without you, I can't cope.
أعجبنتى القصيدة :
You are the drop, and the ocean.
You are kindness, you are anger,
You are sweetness, you are poison.
Do not make me more disheartened.
You are the chamber of the Sun,
You are the abode of Venus,
You are the garden of all hope.
Oh, Beloved, let me enter.
You are daylight, you are fasting,
You are the fruit of misery,
You are water, you are the bowl,
Oh, give me some water this time.
You are the grain of wheat, the snare,
You are the wine, you are the cup,
Raw you are, and cooked too you are.
Oh, do not leave me quite so raw.
You, the sudden resurrection,
You, the everlasting mercy,
You, who comes forth bringing fire
Into the dry wood of my thoughts.
You, the chamberlain of the sun,
You, who merit every hope,
You, whom we seek, and you who seek,
You, the end and the beginning.
والجزء الفريد فى العشق والحب :
Without you, I cannot.
You are my wine, my joy,
My garden, my springtime,
My slumber, my repose,
Without you, I can't cope.
September 22, 2016
Rumi's poems are the proof that some things in life are simply timeless. Other than that, they're too "rainbows and butterflies" for my taste.
June 13, 2012
So one night I got all hopped up on the idea of getting my poetry collection all entered into goodreads, so spent the evening transporting stacks of books from my shelves to my computer and back, entering ISBNs. Many books I spent some time flipping through, trying to remember if I'd read them all the way through, and if so, what I'd thought of them. This book was so short, I thought, "I should just read it now, and I'll know for sure."
This book was, sadly, a disappointment. It was Rumi, alright, so there was wisdom, and irreverence, and reverence, and love. But the translations just didn't sing to me. They were too heavy, somehow. Just as I was thinking how much better I loved Coleman Barks's translations, I reached the end, where Chopra confesses how his work was inspired by Barks, and he includes a few of Barks's versions of examples and immediately I found them as moving as Chopra's versions weren't. These were cleaner, brighter, somehow. More fully realized in a modern poetic sensibility.
Okay, that last sentence gave me the vapours. I need to go lie down.
This book was, sadly, a disappointment. It was Rumi, alright, so there was wisdom, and irreverence, and reverence, and love. But the translations just didn't sing to me. They were too heavy, somehow. Just as I was thinking how much better I loved Coleman Barks's translations, I reached the end, where Chopra confesses how his work was inspired by Barks, and he includes a few of Barks's versions of examples and immediately I found them as moving as Chopra's versions weren't. These were cleaner, brighter, somehow. More fully realized in a modern poetic sensibility.
Okay, that last sentence gave me the vapours. I need to go lie down.
December 30, 2017
Rumi's finest collection. A must read, of course.
April 24, 2014
My heart is on fire!
In my madness
I roam the desert
The flames of my passion
devour the wind and the sky
My cries of longing
My wails of sorrow
are tormenting my soul
You wait
patiently
looking into my intoxicated eyes
You accept my passion
with the serenity of love
You are the master of existence
One day I shall be
a Lover like you
In my madness
I roam the desert
The flames of my passion
devour the wind and the sky
My cries of longing
My wails of sorrow
are tormenting my soul
You wait
patiently
looking into my intoxicated eyes
You accept my passion
with the serenity of love
You are the master of existence
One day I shall be
a Lover like you
January 21, 2016
People want you to be happy.
Don't keep serving them your pain!
If you could untie your wings
and free your soul of jealousy,
you and everyone around you
would fly up like doves.
Don't keep serving them your pain!
If you could untie your wings
and free your soul of jealousy,
you and everyone around you
would fly up like doves.
April 26, 2015
Comentarios y fragmentos para el futuro. El amor es como un ladrón en la noche.
I- Sobre la alquimia como una forma de dialéctica. Elogio de un Dios alquimista.
II- El sueño es humo, el amor y Dios-en-el-cuerpo.
III- La experiencia física (el baile/rito) como fuente de conocimiento y unión con lo otro (Dios/los amores/la esencia).
IV- El amor hace dioses de los hombres. Vitalismo. El enamorado y el bailarín como Superhombre nietzscheano:
V- Desde El Corán: amar a una persona es amar a todo al Mundo. (Quienes se unan a sus esposas estarán más cerca de Allah.)
VI- Crítica de la legalidad, elogio de una espiritualidad interior.
I- Sobre la alquimia como una forma de dialéctica. Elogio de un Dios alquimista.
You are the master alchemist.
You light the fire of love
in earth and sky
in heart and soul
of every being.
Through your loving
existence and nonexistence merge.
All opposites unite.
all that is profane
becomes sacred again. (p. 19)
II- El sueño es humo, el amor y Dios-en-el-cuerpo.
You arouse with your touch
although I can’t see your hands.
You have kissed me with tenderness
although I haven’t seen your lips.
You are hidden from me.
But it is you who keeps me alive. (p. 22)
III- La experiencia física (el baile/rito) como fuente de conocimiento y unión con lo otro (Dios/los amores/la esencia).
In my hallucination
I saw my Beloved’s flower garden
In my vertigo
in my dizziness
in my drunken haze
whirling and dancing
like a spinning wheel
I saw myself
as the source of existence
I was there in the beginning
and I was the spirit of love
Now I am sober
there is only hangover
and the memory of love
and only the sorrow (p.25)
IV- El amor hace dioses de los hombres. Vitalismo. El enamorado y el bailarín como Superhombre nietzscheano:
My friends have become strangers
and I’m surrounded by enemies
but I’m free as the wind
no longer hurt by those who reproach me
I’m at home wherever I am
and in the room of lovers
I can see with closed eyes
the beauty that dances
behind the veils
intoxicated with love
I too dance the rhythm
of this moving world
I have lost my senses
in my world of lovers (p. 29)
V- Desde El Corán: amar a una persona es amar a todo al Mundo. (Quienes se unan a sus esposas estarán más cerca de Allah.)
I am ashamed
to call this love human
and afraid of God
to call it divine
(...)
My arrow of love
has arrived at the target
I am in the house of mercy
and my heart
is a place of prayer (p.47)
VI- Crítica de la legalidad, elogio de una espiritualidad interior.
I’m sick of mortal kings.
I long to see your light.
With lamps in hand
the sheikhs and mullahs roam
the dark alleys of these towns
not finding what they seek. (p.16)
Cease looking for flowers!
There blooms a garden in your own home.
While you look for trinkets
the treasure house awaits you in your own being. (p. 48)
May 14, 2025
Saving a couple to recite for my wedding but can’t post cuz my butch has my goodreads. Lesbians love you rumi!!!!!
January 13, 2025
Kakav mali, slatki beg od svakodnevice.
December 12, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Love Poems of Rumi is another installment in this series of books written by Rumi and translated by Nader Khalili.
In this version it features the love poems by Rumi. I have been a fan of Rumis poetry for afew years now and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I came across many new to me poems and felt the emotions through the turns of each page.
The decor of the book is warm, bright and inviting too.
The Love Poems of Rumi is another installment in this series of books written by Rumi and translated by Nader Khalili.
In this version it features the love poems by Rumi. I have been a fan of Rumis poetry for afew years now and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I came across many new to me poems and felt the emotions through the turns of each page.
The decor of the book is warm, bright and inviting too.
Read
December 26, 2015Lovely little book of poems that my husband bought for me for christmas.
All together now....
Awwwwww....!
All together now....
Awwwwww....!
June 9, 2018
Rumi is great, a genius! This is not about Rumi.
—
I would rate this -1 if that was possible to do. I love Rumi, and I've read quite a lot of his work. This is the worst thing that can happen with Rumi's work! I'll just say it simply, do not pick this book. I repeat, DO NOT!
Skip this in every possible way, do not come near this, please read the original literal translations - which is available in most languages - or you can go for the one by Coleman Barks or the one by Bernard Lewis, anything except this!
I am so furious to see this charlatan's name associated with Rumi! I knew about Deepak Chopra before this too, and so it was not very surprising to me to see this converted into this crap. This is extreme nonsense. He 'improved' and 'translated' this! I don't know where to begin, but I won't say anything more about this Chopra guy for...reasons.
For people who've read this, and thought this was 'good', 'okay', or 'beautiful in its own way', I feel sorry for you - I am sorry.
Some people think Trump is good, some think Kanye is better than Eminem - maybe they're all one. I don't know. Let's just leave that here.
I'm sorry to rant, but just...just skip this one, okay?
Thanks!
—
I would rate this -1 if that was possible to do. I love Rumi, and I've read quite a lot of his work. This is the worst thing that can happen with Rumi's work! I'll just say it simply, do not pick this book. I repeat, DO NOT!
Skip this in every possible way, do not come near this, please read the original literal translations - which is available in most languages - or you can go for the one by Coleman Barks or the one by Bernard Lewis, anything except this!
I am so furious to see this charlatan's name associated with Rumi! I knew about Deepak Chopra before this too, and so it was not very surprising to me to see this converted into this crap. This is extreme nonsense. He 'improved' and 'translated' this! I don't know where to begin, but I won't say anything more about this Chopra guy for...reasons.
For people who've read this, and thought this was 'good', 'okay', or 'beautiful in its own way', I feel sorry for you - I am sorry.
Some people think Trump is good, some think Kanye is better than Eminem - maybe they're all one. I don't know. Let's just leave that here.
I'm sorry to rant, but just...just skip this one, okay?
Thanks!
October 13, 2020
Poetry is something that suddenly arises in the mind and it's related to the surroundings of poet. Respected Rumi had shown the alchemy of love, the effects of love, how people thinks after falling in love.
Likely-
I am drenched
in the flood
which has yet to come.
Or, In the existence of your love,
I have become nonexistent.
Or, Every part of me goes in different directions.
Is it really so
that the one I love is everywhere?
I once explained to my friend that nothing in the world is free. She laughed out and I continued explaining. This is to say that people love, here also the issue of debt is involved. Although there is no involvement of money, the issue is to be happy in each other's presence. People love others to make happy thyself. People make their lovers happy because their happiness rely on theirs.
Here comes respected Rumi to help me with these lines -
If I love myself
I love you.
If I love you
I love myself.
I loved these lines the most.
All praises goes to translator. But I don't think the way the poet says that can be translated completely. May be the translated poem loses its original appeal albeit a little. That's why 4 stars.
Likely-
I am drenched
in the flood
which has yet to come.
Or, In the existence of your love,
I have become nonexistent.
Or, Every part of me goes in different directions.
Is it really so
that the one I love is everywhere?
I once explained to my friend that nothing in the world is free. She laughed out and I continued explaining. This is to say that people love, here also the issue of debt is involved. Although there is no involvement of money, the issue is to be happy in each other's presence. People love others to make happy thyself. People make their lovers happy because their happiness rely on theirs.
Here comes respected Rumi to help me with these lines -
If I love myself
I love you.
If I love you
I love myself.
I loved these lines the most.
All praises goes to translator. But I don't think the way the poet says that can be translated completely. May be the translated poem loses its original appeal albeit a little. That's why 4 stars.
January 9, 2021
I will soothe you and heal you
I will bring you roses
I too have been covered with thorns
August 5, 2021
POETRY THAT MAKES HEART GO BOOM BOOM AND EYES WATER IS ALL I ASK FOR
August 18, 2021
Beautiful artwork in the book! Some poems hit home some missed. I blame it on the translation because poetry in its native language will always be more magical.
April 8, 2008
I'm reading and re-reading love poems lately, as I'm getting married next month and have been on the hunt for the perfect reading for our ceremony. Rumi, who I always thought of, maybe only by stereotype and not really by truth, as a steady, sort of wise thinker who contemplatively and maturely crafts poems from this noble, truth-holding sort of place, is kind of crazy when it comes to love.
I'd hoped to find a reading that would capture the essence of love in a peaceful and harmonic state: without frenzy and fury, without agony and desperation. Instead, with Rumi I've found drunken madness--his words, both of them. It seems that in Rumi's world, there is a division between being in love and the rest of life: "Because of your love / I have lost my sobriety / I am intoxicated / by the madness of love / In this fog / I have become a stranger to myself / I'm so drunk / I've lost the way to my house."
I don't want to believe that being in love means you lose your home. In fact, personally, being so far from my physical home and making the decision to become part of another family, I want some sort of reassurance that committing to love does not separate one from one's original home. I also don't believe that being in love means you find your home--
I believe, I guess (conviction, right?) that love, especially when it comes to marriage and partnership, is a partial blend. I maintain my "self"; he maintains his "self." And then we jointly make a third "self" which becomes the relationship between us.
Rumi says to his sweetheart, "Your touch has filled me with desire / I am no longer separate from you ... Let me merge with you."
Merge. Merge not. I actually think that I'm offering greater respect to my loved one if I do not merge with him, but rather, if I let him stand separate from me, and admire him, and support him, and adore him without actually becoming him. We are stronger this way, as two separate people joining forces, rather than simply folding into one.
I'd hoped to find a reading that would capture the essence of love in a peaceful and harmonic state: without frenzy and fury, without agony and desperation. Instead, with Rumi I've found drunken madness--his words, both of them. It seems that in Rumi's world, there is a division between being in love and the rest of life: "Because of your love / I have lost my sobriety / I am intoxicated / by the madness of love / In this fog / I have become a stranger to myself / I'm so drunk / I've lost the way to my house."
I don't want to believe that being in love means you lose your home. In fact, personally, being so far from my physical home and making the decision to become part of another family, I want some sort of reassurance that committing to love does not separate one from one's original home. I also don't believe that being in love means you find your home--
I believe, I guess (conviction, right?) that love, especially when it comes to marriage and partnership, is a partial blend. I maintain my "self"; he maintains his "self." And then we jointly make a third "self" which becomes the relationship between us.
Rumi says to his sweetheart, "Your touch has filled me with desire / I am no longer separate from you ... Let me merge with you."
Merge. Merge not. I actually think that I'm offering greater respect to my loved one if I do not merge with him, but rather, if I let him stand separate from me, and admire him, and support him, and adore him without actually becoming him. We are stronger this way, as two separate people joining forces, rather than simply folding into one.
April 27, 2008
Wow, what can I possibly say to describe the poetry of Rumi? I couldn't see through my tears as I tried to read. I want to feel the same ecstacy in my connection with God that Rumi felt all those years ago.
In some parts, you'd swear Rumi had been reading A New Earth, back in the 1200's. Or maybe Eckhart Tolle is a fan of Rumi?
In some parts, you'd swear Rumi had been reading A New Earth, back in the 1200's. Or maybe Eckhart Tolle is a fan of Rumi?
June 25, 2009
i cannot say enough of Rumi.
a must read...especially if you're a lover.
a must read...especially if you're a lover.
July 22, 2020
I was expecting more beautiful poetic prose since Rumi is celebrated as one of the most talented poets in literature. I felt like the beauty of the verses was lost in translation. The three poems at the end of the book which are taken from another translation stand out as the best poetry in the whole collection. Disappointed with the work of the translator. Started a new book on Rumi by a different translator. I'm only halfway through, but there's much more beauty in the verses.
August 27, 2014
Rumi is the best. Why Chopra decided to manipulate his poems I'll never know (C.R.E.A.M.)
Please read literal translations of Rumi!!!
If you're interested, Bernard Lewis' "Music of a distant drum" is amazing and has a real flavor of Rumi and his peoples.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
Please read literal translations of Rumi!!!
If you're interested, Bernard Lewis' "Music of a distant drum" is amazing and has a real flavor of Rumi and his peoples.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8...
February 7, 2011
marvellous...
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