Customer Reviews

Open Secret: Versions of Rumi

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Unlike many of his translations of Rumi, Open Secrets credits the Persian scholar, John Moyne, as a co-author. The notes credit A. J. Arberry and R. A. Nicholson as well. Coleman Barks forms the translations in English poetry. This collection is of quatrains and odes.

In this collection fewer of the poems use specifically Sufi imagery than in some collections; e.g. "Late, by myself, in the boat of myself" could as easily be Buddhist or Hindu; this makes the poetry more obviously universal than some collections. There are, of course, the more specifically Sufi tavern/wine images, e.g. "They say that Paradise will be prefect / with losts of clear white wine and all the beautiful women".

These translations are meant for, and work best for, the individual reading for the spiritual content of Rumi rather than the scholar interested in Persian poetry.

The open secret, available to all but few listen. That is the feeling you get when you let these wonderful writings flow over and through you.

Some short, some longer, each writing is a treasure. The more you read (or listen if you've been fortunate to get the audio condensed version from this work) the deeper each verse becomes. I've owned the printed copy for years and every read brings new wonders and old friends.

The cream of Rumi is brought to this work and Coleman Barks does wonderful interpretations. The work as a whole weaves a tapestry that, in the end, leaves you feeling part weaver and part thread. The possibility of the "Beloved" as "Lover" becomes manifest. The drunk, intoxicated by the bliss of the presence of God, overflows with sacred wine and wants to dance. The sharing of a deep spiritual presence at dawn with those nearest you becomes a yearning that you want each and every day.

This book is a cornerstone in the rediscovery of Rumi and Islam for that matter. It provides a glimpse, from the lovers' point of view, into a world traditionally dominated by the warrior spirit.

After reading you yearn for the association of others who have similar thoughts. You realize that "the pot drips what's in it" and you yearn to associate with gentle people who enjoy this book as much as you.

Certainly "Open Secret" is a must read and a must own. It is every bit worth the price and a classic in the genre.

I have read many, many translations of Rumi. So far, this is my favorite. John Moyne does a tremendous job of conveying the blazing passion that fills Rumi's work. This is my favorite single-author book of poetry, bar none.

A lovely collection of versions of Rumi translated by the great linguistic scholar John Moyne and Coleman Barks. They are quatrains and odes and they attest to the divine. My absolute favourite has to be Ode 388:

I would love to kiss you.
The price of kissing is your life.

Now my love is running toward my life shouting,
What a bargain, let's buy it.

but for poets, Ode 1315 has to run a close second:

We've given up making a living.
It's all this crazy love poetry now.

It's everywhere. Our eyes and our feelings
focus together, with our words.


Don't pass this one by!

THE VERSIONS OF RUMI WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK. THE POEMS WERE NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT REALLY TOUCHED YOU WERE IT COUNTS....THE HEART. THE POETS WERE REALLY COMPASSIONATE; AND SINCE THE POEMS WERE ACTUALLY WRITTEN THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, THEY WERE REFINED AND REVISED VERY WELL. I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY READER, AND EVEN THOSE WHO JUST WANT TO LISTEN.

This is an amazing book of poetry, the words just dance off the page. this is a good place to start if you're interested in the poetry of Rumi.
The translations are well done and don't sacrifice the emotional content of the poetry to fit the words. Give yourself or someone else a wonderful experience and read this book. You'll be very happy that you did.

This text with versions of Rumi is wonderful for its contemporary language and revelation of Rumi's insights which read as if they came out of a psychologically astute book of modern poetry. My partner and I used Quatrains # 388 and #158 in our wedding ceremony. In this thirteenth century visionary writing I once again am reminded of the ageless quality of human insight and wisdom with its imperative that we remain alert to revelation about to burst upon us. The introduction Moyne and Bark have written for it is a sweet gift as well.
"Open Secret" is a keeper!

Here is Mevlana. In his words he lives with us, harmonizing our souls, hearts, and minds. Taking us beyond our ordinary lives into a world of transcendent knowledge filled with light and love. I have never found anyone else who comes close. Yeats, Hafiz, e.e., T.S., Kabir, Whitman, Ginsburg all wonderful but none have the level of transcendent awareness that pours through Mevlana. Thanks to Coleman's enlightened translations the words seize us with their power.

Absolutely beautiful. Along with Kenneth Rexroth's 100 Poems from the Japanese and Chinese, my favorite poetry in translation.