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Quarreling with God: Mystic Rebel Poems of the Dervishes of Turkey

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I have an insatiable appetite for reading on the Bektashi tradition and a growing interest in the "cabalistic" hurufiyya movement . When I learned that this book contained poems from a variety of Bektashi poets I knew I couldn't pass it up. I wasn't disappointed when I got a hold of it either. Everything about it is top notch! Even the physical qualities of the book (the cover, the materials used, text size and color , etc) are excellent. The poetry is of course what makes this anthology so endearing. Here is an example - a selection from one of my favorites ("What of It' by Nesimi) :

I myself took up the cloak of blame;
I smashed the bottle of honor and virtue on a stone.
What of it ?

Sometimes I rise up and watch the universe from above.
Sometimes I go down to earth and loose myself in love.
What of it?

Sometimes I study life's meaning in the holy books.
Sometimes I go to the tavern and get drunk.
what of it?

The wine of this love is a sin, the orthodox think-
The sin is mine. I fill my glass and drink,
What of it?

The pious bow to the niche in the mosque.
I bow at the beloved doorstep, pressing my face up close.
What of it?

They ask Nesimi,
are you and your Beloved getting along?
Whether we get along or not, my Beloved is mine.
What of it?



Included in this book are selections by the poets;

Nesimi: The Hurufi initiate, sufi , and famed Martyr who was skinned alive for his expression of the inner truths of Islam in a seemingly heterodox manner.

Shah Hatayi (Shah Ismail):The Shi'ite Mystic , Sufi ,and Shah of Tabriz in the Safavid state.

Agahi Ded, Aksarayi Seyh Ibrahim Efendi, Asik Ali Izzet, Asik Dertli, Asik Veysel, Azmi, Edip Harabi, Hassan Ded, Hayri, Hilmi Dede Baba, Ibrahim, Kaygusuz Abdal, Koyunoglu, Kul Himmet, Muhittin Abdal, Niyazi Misri, Pir Sultan Abdal, Riza Tevfik, Sair Esref, Seyyid Seyfullah Nizamoglu, Teslim Abdal, Ummi Sinan, and Yunnus Emre.

I am a helpless renderer, but paraphrasing seems to work best here.
From the opening poem in this book, to give one a sample of the fine, fine, flavor (my rendering/expounding of part of that poem):

"I was asked how the Beloved and me were getting along these days?"
I responded, "Don't be nosey, because -- what of it? For any events that come my way Infinite Knowledge and Compassion sent. All that has entered my ken has become precious, sacred ... and is treated as such. Thus every war -- every internal or external war -- for me has ended."

Sorry to any scholars about that rendering, also who would know who Nesimi is, whose name is mentioned in the original verse. He was new to me. And as said, I just can't help but to frolic with good music, jam and tamper with it. Why not - "what of it", Nesimi might say!

Whatever cracks in your walls and cages Rumi & Hafiz & Kabir may not have broken more open for you so that God -- the Sun -- can seep in ... this book can help rend that veil. "Quarreling with God" is an excellent work, an important contribution to intelligent, spiritual poetry.

Daniel Ladinsky
Best-selling Penguin author of several poetry collections

Each poem selected and translated is a love story come alive. Soul dancing, heart opening, Divine breathing, alive. Deep, vibrant, contemplative. I don't know which I enjoyed more - this book or Jennifer Ferraro's original mystical poetry offered in "Divine Nostalgia". Her attunement to the sweetness of the sacred in life is unmatched.

This book is the Psalms of those skeptical of religious edicts. Each poem beautifully articulates questions that would remain unasked by the orthodox, while managing to praise commonly held beliefs. The aim of the book seemed to be worship for God because of his creation, but also worship for Him in spite of conventional interpretations of his intent for mankind.
That said, the verses themselves are occasionally akin to a child's whining over the difficulties in living up to his father's expectations.
I would place this book somewhere between Nietzsche and Jesus, leaning more towards Jesus of course.