You don't know which thing might move you to tears unless you experience it. You don't know which thing might touch your heart and take you to another land unless you feel it. You don't know what is there beneath few lines unless you breathe along with every word of it.
Sigh!
Few days back, my friend introduced me to the poetry of one of the most outstanding poets and philosophers Jalal-ad-Din Rumi, a Turkish Sufi. Honestly, I carried some knowledge about this great man but never really spent time to read his fantastic work...his quotations.
Yes, that day in the metro I gulped in some of his most throbbing words and experienced something that I can never articulate in few expressions. It is either indeed ineffable or I am too naive or callow to look for some worthy appreciation. All I can say is that this man's words which were recorded somewhere in the 13th Century moved a teenage girl to tears in the 21st Century. See how amazing it is. We say that people change with time but do you find any change in the inner soul of every homosapien? For I believe that many before me would have shed tears while reading the same lines. Many before me would have felt a strong and powerful connection the way I did. So how am I different to those nth number of people?
Think.
Anyway following is the one that I am talking about. You can read his other quotations here.
“Like This
If anyone asks you
how the perfect satisfaction
of all our sexual wanting
will look, lift your face
and say,
Like this.
When someone mentions the gracefulness
of the nightsky, climb up on the roof
and dance and say,
Like this.
If anyone wants to know what "spirit" is,
or what "God’s fragrance" means,
lean your head toward him or her.
Keep your face there close.
Like this.
When someone quotes the old poetic image
about clouds gradually uncovering the moon,
slowly loosen knot by knot the strings
of your robe.
Like this.
If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,
don’t try to explain the miracle.
Kiss me on the lips.
Like this. Like this.
When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
here.
If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your fingers the space
between the creases on your forehead.
This tall.
The soul sometimes leaves the body, the returns.
When someone doesn’t believe that,
walk back into my house.
Like this.
When lovers moan,
they’re telling our story.
Like this.
I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.
Like this.
When someone asks what there is to do,
light the candle in his hand.
Like this.
How did Joseph’s scent come to Jacob?
Huuuuu.
How did Jacob’s sight return?
Huuuu.
A little wind cleans the eyes.
Like this.
When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he’ll put just his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us
Like this.”
― Rumi
If anyone asks you
how the perfect satisfaction
of all our sexual wanting
will look, lift your face
and say,
Like this.
When someone mentions the gracefulness
of the nightsky, climb up on the roof
and dance and say,
Like this.
If anyone wants to know what "spirit" is,
or what "God’s fragrance" means,
lean your head toward him or her.
Keep your face there close.
Like this.
When someone quotes the old poetic image
about clouds gradually uncovering the moon,
slowly loosen knot by knot the strings
of your robe.
Like this.
If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,
don’t try to explain the miracle.
Kiss me on the lips.
Like this. Like this.
When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
here.
If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your fingers the space
between the creases on your forehead.
This tall.
The soul sometimes leaves the body, the returns.
When someone doesn’t believe that,
walk back into my house.
Like this.
When lovers moan,
they’re telling our story.
Like this.
I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.
Like this.
When someone asks what there is to do,
light the candle in his hand.
Like this.
How did Joseph’s scent come to Jacob?
Huuuuu.
How did Jacob’s sight return?
Huuuu.
A little wind cleans the eyes.
Like this.
When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he’ll put just his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us
Like this.”
― Rumi
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Time for some good news now: I feel elated to announce that Mirage got it's first award by two of my lovely blogger friends. Yayyyyy!!!! It is a complete honor to receive the award. Thank you so much Keirthana and Sumitra. You both made me SOOOOOOOO HAPPY.
<3 <3
