A true genius, unknown in the west because he wrote in ancient Persian, was born in Balkh, Afghanistan in 1207 A.D. Both he and his father were non conformist writers about human love, religion and startlingly with deep insight into human psychology. Because of his protesting views, he was forced to flee the menace of the Islamic Empire and went to live in what was then know as Roman Anatolia, or Byzantine Turkey. Here he came to be called by the name Rumi (Roman) the Persian. By c. 1250 A.D. he was well known and honored by the literate of that world, and now we have many, tho not all of his works translated into English: The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks is one of them, a collection of poems that present insights of into philosophy, romantic love, and the limits of thinking about the world we are born to and given without choice. The above description may put many off but a short sample of a love poem he wrote from the Essential Rumi may interest those of us who read such pleasant jewels to our loves: You know my coins are counterfeit + But you accept them anyway, My impudence and my pretending! *** First when I was away from you This world did not exist Nor any other. Second, whatever I was looking for Was always you. Third, why did I ever learn to count to Three?
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 17:12:54 +0000