Daily Rumi

one by one
our friends
filled with joy and quest
begin to arrive

one by one our friends
the worshipers of ecstasy
begin to arrive

more friends and sweethearts
filling you with love
are on their way

darlings of spring
journeying from gardens
begin to arrive

one by one
living their destiny
in this world

the ones who are gone are gone
but the ones who survived
begin to arrive

all their pockets
filled with gold
from endless treasures

bringing gifts
for the needy of the world
begin to arrive

the weak and the exhausted
the frightened by love
will be gone

the rejuvenated
the healthy and happy
begin to arrive

the pure souls
like the spectrums
of the shining sun

descending from the high heavens
to lowly earth
begin to arrive

luscious and happy
the blessed garden
whose heavenly fruits

spring forth
from the virgin winter
begin to arrive

those who are born
from the roots
of generosity and love

taking a journey
from paradise to paradise
begin to arrive

-- Translation by Nader Khalili

A night full of talking that hurts,
my worst held-back secrets: everything
that has to do with loving and not loving.

This night will pass.
Then we have work to do.

- - - - - - - - - - - 
Interpretation by Coleman Barks in
_Rumi: The Book of Love_.

I plant some flowers without you,
they become thorns.
I see a peacock, it turns into a snake.
I play the rubaab – nothing but noise.
I go to the highest heaven, it's a burning hell.

- Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva

Time is limited, and the abundant water flowing away.
Drink, before you fall to pieces.
There is a famous conduit, full of the Water of Life:
draw the Water, so that you may become fruitful.
We are drinking the water of Khidr*
from the river of the speech of the saints:
Come, thirsty one!
Even if you don't see the water, as skillfully as a blind person,
bring the jug to the river and dip it in.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

*Khidr is the immortal "Green Man" who appears as a guide to those who are worthy.


-- Mathnawi III: 4300-4304
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski

Through companionship a grape grows from the earth.
But first a grape seed graciously consorted
in solitary intercourse with the dark earth--
it effaced itself entirely in the ground,
until no color or scent, no red or yellow hue remained.

After that effacement, it's constriction ceased--
it opened its wings, expanded, and sped on its way.
Since it became selfless in the presence of its origin,
it transcended it's limited form
and it's real essence was revealed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Translated by Kabir & Camille Helminski
Mathnawi III: 2066-2070

Without the eyes – two clouds – the lightning of the heart:
The fire of God's threat, how could it be allayed?
How would the herbage grow of union, sweet to taste?
How would the fountains all gush forth with water pure?
How would the rosebed tell its secret to the meadow?
How would the violet make contracts with jasmine?
How would the plane tree lift its hands in prayer, say?
How would the trees' heads toss free in the air of Love?
How would the blossoms shake their sleeves in days of
spring
To shed their lovely coins about the garden wide?
How would the tulip's cheek be red like flames and blood?
How would the rose draw out its gold now from its purse?
How would the ringdoves call like seekers, "Where, oh
where?"
How would the stork repeat his laklak from his soul,
To say: "O Helper high, Thine is the kingdom, Thine!"
How would the dust reveal the secrets of its heart?
How would the sky become a garden full of light?

-- Mathnawi II: 1655-64
Translation by Annemarie Schimmel

The lamps are different,
But the light is the same.
So many garish lamps in the dying brain's
  lamp shop,
Forget about them.
Concentrate on essence, concentrate on Light.
In lucid bliss, calmly smoking off it's own holy,
  fire,
The Light streams toward you from all things,
All people, all possible permutations of good,
  evil, thought, passion.
The lamps are different,
But the Light is the same.
One matter, one energy, one Light, one
  Light-mind,
Endlessly emanating all things.
One turning and burning diamond,
One, one, one.
Ground yourself, strip yourself down,
To blind loving silence.
Stay there, until you see
You are gazing at the Light
With its own ageless eyes.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Interpretation by Andrew Harvey in
The Rumi Collection, ed by Kabir Helminski

The cruelty of Time
and every affliction that exists
are lighter than being distant from God
and forgetful of Him.
Because afflictions will pass,
but that forgetfulness will not.
Felicity belongs only to the one
who brings his spirit near to God,
awake and mindful of Him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


-- Mathnawi VI:1756-1757
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski