Love Is a Stranger

Kabir Helminski presents his translations of 44 poems by Jelaluddin Rumi. Here is one about questing.

Search the Darkness

Sit with your friends; don't go back to sleep.
Don't sink like a fish to the bottom of the sea.

Surge like an ocean,
don't scatter yourself like a storm.

Life's waters flow from darkness.
Search the darkness, don't run from it.

Night travelers are full of light,
and you are, too; don't leave this companionship.

Be a wakeful candle in a golden dish,
don’t slip in the dirt like quicksilver.

The moon appears for night travelers,
be watchful when the moon is full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frederic Brussat shares a nice selection from Rumi at his site. I should have noted the beginning of (and my excitement for) Poetry Month yesterday.