Reading Rumi

I Prefer Silence (7/7/2024)

I Prefer Silence (7/7/2024)

You have said so many times,

“I have given up words. I prefer silence.”

Yet, you turn around words,

so much so that you have turned into talk.

You sail with word’s ship on the sea of thought,

that sea which you have not yet renounced

and which word’s ship never will.

Rubailer (2016), Rubai 2, page 454.

The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Rubai 1145, Volume 3.

The Mirror (6/23/2024)

The Mirror (6/23/2024)

Poor heart, you are the mirror of everything.

God has favored you with beautiful attributes,

and you act like you don’t even see them.

Such rebellion can give you nothing but headaches.

O mirror which has accepted good as bad as it reflects on you,

you don’t even know what is reflected.

Rubailer (2016), Rubai 2, page 447.

The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (pubsummer2024), Rubai 1133, Volume 3.

Isn’t That True or False? (6/16/2024)

Isn’t That True or False? (6/16/2024)

At the time of evening prayers,

everyone lights their candle and sets their table.

Yet, I put the Beloved’s image in front of me.

I cry and yell with sorrow and longing. Continue reading “Isn’t That True or False? (6/16/2024)”

When You Become a Friend… (6/9/2024)

When You Become a Friend… (6/9/2024)

When you become a friend of One whose heart is in God,

know that, just like your fate,

your soul will fall into Love’s fire.

Don’t worry. Don’t run away.

Know well that from then on,

it will be impossible to contain you anywhere.

Rubailer (2016), Rubai 1, page 444.

The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (pubJuly2024), Rubai 1130, Volume 3.

Before You are Cooked (5/26/2024)

Before You are Cooked (5/26/2024)

Before you are cooked in the flames of your heart,

you are nothing but wet kindling.

Unless you tear up the body’s cloak,

the flames of Love cannot be your mentor.

Rubailer (2016), Rubai 1, page 439.

The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (pub.2024), Rubai 1119, Volume 3.

The Land of Truth (5/19/2024)

The Land of Truth (5/19/2024)

Hey, night guard, what kind of guard are you anyway?

A thief stole all of our belongings last night.

 

Slap cold water on your face.

Yell and scream.

Our gains became a loss because of your sleep. Continue reading “The Land of Truth (5/19/2024)”

All Upside Down (5/12/2024)

All Upside Down (5/12/2024)

O cloud, you are from the universe of the suns.

The thing you do now is all upside down.

Know well that by covering our world in darkness,

you are oppressing us.

It is for mortals like us to cry.

Instead, you are crying for us.

Rubailer (2016), Rubai 2, page 427.

The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (apprx.pub.2024), Rubai 1117, Volume 3.