desire lives in a cold grave
The spot where your hand lay still is warm.
Your words hang suspended in the air
where first they flew forth.
They resonate
but I cannot hear them.
Your wails of love and sorrow,
bittersweet intruders,
breathe forth
salty rivers and knowing smiles
on the faces of all who know your Touch,
but I cannot be reached.
A current of air whirls and twirls
around the Pillar,
incessantly carrying your song on its shoulders
just as you carried Shams in your heart,
but I cannot be moved.
your Absent Body,
Lord of White Figures
that forever dance to your song,
rules over beings imprisoned by the all-consuming whirlpool
of your departure.
But I cannot be your subject.
Concrete pillar,
Pillar of concrete,
twirling Air,
whirling Sufis,
Enlightened masses,
the very elements in motion,
all are places where you reside,
Transcendental,
throughout this curse called
Time.
But I remain empty,
feeling
Nothing but sorrow of a
Desire that now has a face
that lives in the name of
Rumi to the world,
Molana Jalaledin Mohammad Molavi Balkhi to your people.
~Explanation of symbolism, in case of questions, in comments.
Your words hang suspended in the air
where first they flew forth.
They resonate
but I cannot hear them.
Your wails of love and sorrow,
bittersweet intruders,
breathe forth
salty rivers and knowing smiles
on the faces of all who know your Touch,
but I cannot be reached.
A current of air whirls and twirls
around the Pillar,
incessantly carrying your song on its shoulders
just as you carried Shams in your heart,
but I cannot be moved.
your Absent Body,
Lord of White Figures
that forever dance to your song,
rules over beings imprisoned by the all-consuming whirlpool
of your departure.
But I cannot be your subject.
Concrete pillar,
Pillar of concrete,
twirling Air,
whirling Sufis,
Enlightened masses,
the very elements in motion,
all are places where you reside,
Transcendental,
throughout this curse called
Time.
But I remain empty,
feeling
Nothing but sorrow of a
Desire that now has a face
that lives in the name of
Rumi to the world,
Molana Jalaledin Mohammad Molavi Balkhi to your people.
~Explanation of symbolism, in case of questions, in comments.
19 Comments:
This poem is written out of my love for the great Persian poet, Rumi, known as Molavi in Iran. Rumi’s muse was a dervish, Shams of Tabriz, a man Rumi loved deeply whom, it is rumored, was murdered by Rumi’s jealous students. Upon his death, the heartbroken Rumi began to recite poetry so beautiful in its imagery that those around him dutifully took notes and recorded it so that it would not be lost and in its loss, Rumi’s pain and heartbeak wasted and forgotten. Rumi, as he recited his poetry, held on to a pillar with one hand as he whirled and twirled around it whilst speaking as if in a trance. Sufis (they are the “White Figures”) whirl and twirl to achieve a trance-like state and legend goes that this originates from Rumi’s actions.
The Persian language is so rich that with one word it can capture emotions that would require paragraphs for the English language to capture, if even successful at that. I cannot read Farsi but my husband has read Rumi’s poetry to me and I have been moved by it in ways that no Western writer has ever been able to move me (and in ways that translations of his poems have not been able to move me). My poem reflects the frustration I feel for not being able to truly know Rumi because of the language barrier. However, I do feel his soul, his essence and so, because my frustration exists as a result of my love for Rumi and his legacy, this was the only way I could pay him homage.
A beautiful poem Miz. Fascinating story of Rumi...admire his work very much.
Thank you Joel. Yes, Rumi was just amazing. If ever we are fortunate enough to meet up we can use Loverboy for actual live translations of his work! Very different from the actual translations out there (Coleman Barks being the most famous one and not very good I might add!!) unfortunately as that is to mean much of the depth and meaning in Rumi's work is lost in the translated versions. Even so, the fact that the blander translated works have touched so many is in and of itself an amazing feat!
I had the sense of eternal dance while reading the poem. Persian culture has always fascinated me, since reading some ancient texts in high school.
This is amazing Miz B! May I ask you a question? In my Ethics class that I took last summer, we watched a movie called "Little Buddah" and among many of the actors in it, Keanu Reeves was one of the main characters... he played "the enlightened one"... Now here is where my question lies... Did you see this movie? Do you think it accurately shows some of the history involved with Buddhism? Wait... Mohammad.. that is Muslim isn't it? You are talking about Persian culture in general? This is beautiful... I am amazed.
I am impressed by your choice in reading material when only in high school! It is definitely an interesting culture with many peaks and valleys and quite colorful to say the least.
I am flattered about what you saw in the poem. I would like to think of Rumi's words living on as an eternal dance... fitting, wouldn't you say?
Thank you Indie.
Hi Smurf! We must have posted at the same time!
Well, with regards to that movie, it is loosely based on the book Siddhartha by Herman Hesse as well as Indian and Buddhist folklore... if I remember correctly. No, it doesn't really depict the history of Buddhism but one of their legends and famous myths, folktales and whatnot that served to illustrate part of the philosophy and concepts of Buddhism. And yea, this poem is not about that though so...
Mohammad was one of Rumi's names and no, that does not necessarily make him Muslim nor are all Iranians Muslims. Iran's actual religion historically is Zoroastrianism as well as Mitraism. Islam came into play when the Arabs conquered the Iranians. For an explanation of the poem read my comment above.
Glad you liked it.
I did read the comment. I thought it was beautiful... I was also just wondering about the other. Thanks for answering, even though it was not off topic. I love to learn and it is so beautiful. Beautiful doesn't even adequately describe the homage you paid him. Well done my friend.
Wonder away dear Smurf! I will try to be as educated and informative on the subjects as hand as possible! ;-) Be off topic anytime you want (although hey, it did tie in to the poem beneath this one!). I am very flattered that you liked it! Thank you for the sweet words.
Hey Miz: It wasn't my choice exactly, except that I selected a class that read ancient literature, like Gilgamesh, Homer, Song of Roland, etc. We also read a few ancient Persian texts, one of trechery and betrayal. That was the time of the hostage situation with Iran and the teacher remarked that texts like these could give us insights into modern Iranian culture/values. (That statement seems kind of silly now).
I'm embarrassed to say that this was my first real insight into the Persian culture... but it was beautiful, and i'll be back for more.
I also caught the sense of rhythm and dance from your words, Miz B, and you intrigue me. More... please.
The poem is beautiful. I knew the story of Rumi but you tell it better
that was wonderful and I am so glad I came across this thru G - I can now visit you more often....
Miz B, before reading your explanation, I thought that was a very sad love poem. I still think so. very beautiful and very sad.
you are a whirl to me (:
Indie~ Oooh! Yes! you'd better beware of my evil ways then! I think in time it all eventually becomes a study in history and our perceptions and the factors that shape them in direct relation to the times! Although hey, now with the whole nuclear weapon fiasco and the damned hardliners buying time as they develop their nuclear weapons (of this I am sure!) it can, unfortunately, fit in with the times now too!
Minxy~ Do not be embarassed my dear friend! There probably was no reason to know about it much before and I must admit, and it ties in to the poem and the bittersweet aspect of my personal relationship with the culture, that being part Iranian I myself know not enough about the culture and have much to learn myself!
As for the rest I am very flattered! More? I will try not to disappoint!
Pia~ I knew you'd know it! Glad you liked this little version Pia!
Jodes Thank you my dear and if the IP guy cannot bust you for this banner then man! I must be doing something wrong and more kink is in order then! ;-P Seriously now, very glad to have you here sweet friend!
Ariel~ Thank you Ariel! Though this may translate as my sad love poem with Rumi the underlying layer in Rumi's story is that it was rumored, and probably correctly so, that Shams, also a man, was his lover and that his death caused much sorrow and pain and became the source of Rumi's outpouring of heartbroken love for his dead lover.
Johnie1~ Coming from a badboy from London I must say I am quite flattered indeed! *blushetty blush*
This was an excellent choice. I had my still beating heart ripped free from my chest this weekend.
Usually, I prefer Rumi's softer side.
Art as Flirtation and Surrender
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.
Since you like Rumi so much try Rilke.
Dedication
I have great faith in all things not yet spoken.
I want my deepest pious feelings freed.
What no one yet has dared to risk and warrant
will be for me a challenge I must meet.
If this presumptious seems, God, may I be forgiven.
For what I want to say to you is this:
my efforts shall be like a driving force,
quite without anger, without timidness
as little children show their love for you.
With these outflowing, river-like, with deltas
that spread like arms to reach the open sea,
with the recurrent tides that never cease
will I acknowledge you, will I proclaim you
as no one ever has before.
And if this should be arrogance, so let me
arrogant be to justify my prayer
that stands so serious and so alone
before your forehead, circled by the clouds.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Miz B, you are a constant source of wonder and fascination to me. you open my mind and expose me to a beauty i have, heretofore, known very little about.
your words, your explanation, all magnificent! damn girl... is there no end to your talent? (i think i already know the answer to this!)
with much love and admiration, i remain one in awe of YOU! xox
Frida~ Beautiful choices! Glad you liked the little ditty and hey! Welcome to the pink!
Neva~ Oh no! Glad you liked it... my god! Flabbergasted, honored, flattered beyond belief and on cloud 9 that you... oh divine, wise and oh so talented Neva... liked it! Thank you and believe me when I tell you that it is me who is in awe of you!!!
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