If Rumi were alive!
While Iran government is spending its time on nuclear issues, the three countries of Turkey, Egypt and Iraq are celebrating the year of Rumi with the support of UNESCO.
I would like to thank UNESCO efforts on introducing and broadcasting nations' cultures and then respectfully emphasis that Rumi is first a Persian Poet rather than an Islamic philosopher. People who know Rumi better than me would agree that if Rumi were alive and well today, he would have not like to be termed an Islamic philosopher by the most distinguishable cultural organization of the world! (Actually he was bigger than that to bother himself to think about it).
If Rumi were alive, he would have rathered that this year be called the year of peace and unity in the world. This poem* of him express this idea:
Why think thus O men of piety
I have returned to sobriety
I am neither a Moslem nor a Hindu
I am not Christian, Zoroastrian, nor Jew
I am neither of the West nor the East
Not of the ocean, nor an earthly beast
I am neither a natural wonder
Nor from the stars yonder
Neither flesh of dust, nor wind inspire
Nor water in veins, nor made of fire
I am neither an earthly carpet, nor gems terrestrial
Nor am I confined to Creation, nor the Throne Celestial
Not of ancient promises, nor of future prophecy
Not of hellish anguish, nor of paradisic ecstasy
Neither the progeny of Adam, nor Eve
Nor of the world of heavenly make-believe
My place is the no-place
My image is without face
Neither of body nor the soul
I am of the Divine Whole.
I eliminated duality with joyous laughter
Saw the unity of here and the hereafter
Unity is what I sing, unity is what I speak
Unity is what I know, unity is what I seek
Intoxicated from the chalice of Love
I have lost both worlds below and above
Sole destiny that comes to me
Licentious mendicity
In my whole life, even if once
Forgot His name even per chance
For that hour spent, for such moment
I’d give my life, and thus repent
Beloved Master, Shams-e Tabrizi
In this world with Love I’m so drunk
The path of Love isn’t easy
I am shipwrecked and must be sunk.
translated by Shahriar Shahriari
Vancouver, CanadaMarch 25, 1998
*Thanks to the dear friend who sent the site of Rumi’s translated poems.
I would like to thank UNESCO efforts on introducing and broadcasting nations' cultures and then respectfully emphasis that Rumi is first a Persian Poet rather than an Islamic philosopher. People who know Rumi better than me would agree that if Rumi were alive and well today, he would have not like to be termed an Islamic philosopher by the most distinguishable cultural organization of the world! (Actually he was bigger than that to bother himself to think about it).
If Rumi were alive, he would have rathered that this year be called the year of peace and unity in the world. This poem* of him express this idea:
Why think thus O men of piety
I have returned to sobriety
I am neither a Moslem nor a Hindu
I am not Christian, Zoroastrian, nor Jew
I am neither of the West nor the East
Not of the ocean, nor an earthly beast
I am neither a natural wonder
Nor from the stars yonder
Neither flesh of dust, nor wind inspire
Nor water in veins, nor made of fire
I am neither an earthly carpet, nor gems terrestrial
Nor am I confined to Creation, nor the Throne Celestial
Not of ancient promises, nor of future prophecy
Not of hellish anguish, nor of paradisic ecstasy
Neither the progeny of Adam, nor Eve
Nor of the world of heavenly make-believe
My place is the no-place
My image is without face
Neither of body nor the soul
I am of the Divine Whole.
I eliminated duality with joyous laughter
Saw the unity of here and the hereafter
Unity is what I sing, unity is what I speak
Unity is what I know, unity is what I seek
Intoxicated from the chalice of Love
I have lost both worlds below and above
Sole destiny that comes to me
Licentious mendicity
In my whole life, even if once
Forgot His name even per chance
For that hour spent, for such moment
I’d give my life, and thus repent
Beloved Master, Shams-e Tabrizi
In this world with Love I’m so drunk
The path of Love isn’t easy
I am shipwrecked and must be sunk.
translated by Shahriar Shahriari
Vancouver, CanadaMarch 25, 1998
*Thanks to the dear friend who sent the site of Rumi’s translated poems.
posted by Bahar @ 12:46
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