Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī "Drumsound rises on the air, its throb, my heart. A voice inside the beat says, 'I know you're tired, but come, this is the way.'" The words of a raver? Jack Kerouac? Not quite. "Who says words with my mouth? Who looks out with my eyes? ... This poetry, I never know what I am going to say. I don't plan it." A freestyle rapper? An improvisational jazz musician? Not even close. These lines, evoking familiar scenes of modern life, were penned in the 13th century by Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī: Sufi theologian, original Whirling Dervish, and America's best-selling poet. Rumi celebrates his 800th birthday on September 30. And how does one honor an 800-year-old poet? UNESCO declared 2007 International Rumi Year, Philip Glass composed music around his words, Donna Karan played Rumi recitations on the runway, and Madonna and Demi Moore sang his verses with Deepak Chopra. Even famed Rumi translator Coleman Barks marvels at the Rumi-mania and the universal appeal of his poetry. "I know these dancers," Rumi might have responded. "Day and night I sing their songs in this phenomenal cage." Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Rumi - the scoop on the life, teachings, major works, and legacy of our hero. Khamush.com - celebrating all things Rumi. Poems by Rumi - a collection of the hits. Rumi Rules! - a Time Magazine feature on the persistent popularity of Rumi.

Directory categories: Rumi, Poets, Whirling Dervishes, Sufism

Archived under: Literature, Poetry, Regional, Religion, Rumi

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