Rumi the Persian poet is widely acknowledged as being the greatest Sufi mystic of his age. He was the founder of the brotherhood of the Whirling Dervishes. This is a collection of his poetry.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
No translator could do greater justice to the gorgeous simplicity of Rumi's poetry than Coleman Barks has done here. These exquisite renderings of the 13th-century Persian mystic's words into American free verse capture all the "inner searching, the delicacy, and simple groundedness" that characterize Rumi's poetry while remaining faithful to the images, tone, and spiritual message of the originals. Barks's introductions to each of the 27 sections (described as "playful palimpsests spread over Rumi's imagination," and "meant to confuse scholars who would divide Rumi's poetry into the accepted categories") are themselves wonderful achievements of a poetic imagination; searching explanations of unfamiliar concepts and funny stories provide colorful background and frame the selections as no dry historical exegesis could.
While Barks's stamp on this collection is clear, it in no way interferes with the poems themselves; Rumi's voice leaps off these pages with an ecstatic energy that leaves readers breathless. There are poems of love, rage, sadness, pleading, and longing; passionate outbursts about the torture of longing for his beloved and the sweet pleasure that comes from their union; amusing stories of sexual exploits or human weakness; and quiet truths about the beauty and variety of human emotion. More than anything, Rumi makes plain the unbridled joy that comes from living life fully, urging us always to put aside our fears and take the risk to do so. As he says: "The way of love is not / a subtle argument. / The door there is devastation. / Birds make great sky-circles / of their freedom. / How do they learn it? / They fall, and falling, / they're given wings." --Uma Kukathas
Review
"If Rumi is the most-read poet in America today, Coleman Barks is in good part responsible. His ear for the truly divine madness in Rumi's potrey is truly remarkable." -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is one of the best books of poetry translations I've ever read. Barks has done a tremendous job of rendering Rumi into language that captures the poet's range: oblique to blunt, ethereal to earthy. While I can't comment on the accuracy of the translations, they work beautifully as English poetry -- and that, to me, is the crucial part. To Western readers, Rumi was a misty eminence of literary and religious history, and Barks has brought him to glorious, complex life.
One caution: although Rumi wrote intensely spiritual poetry, some of the "teaching tales" are pretty raunchy (after reading about the maidservant and the donkey, I'll never look at gourds the same way again!). Again, his poetry blends the divine and the human, heavenly love and earthly eroticism. While there are analogues in Western religious poetry (e.g., Teresa of Avila and the English 17th-century poet Richard Crashaw), this may be unsettling for some readers.
The hardbound edition, at least, is well done: the paper has a nice texture, the typography and page design enhance the text, and the cover is attractive (I haven't looked at the paperback). For me, the attractiveness of the book greatly enhanced the experience of reading it.
One caution: although Rumi wrote intensely spiritual poetry, some of the "teaching tales" are pretty raunchy (after reading about the maidservant and the donkey, I'll never look at gourds the same way again!). Again, his poetry blends the divine and the human, heavenly love and earthly eroticism. While there are analogues in Western religious poetry (e.g., Teresa of Avila and the English 17th-century poet Richard Crashaw), this may be unsettling for some readers.
The hardbound edition, at least, is well done: the paper has a nice texture, the typography and page design enhance the text, and the cover is attractive (I haven't looked at the paperback). For me, the attractiveness of the book greatly enhanced the experience of reading it.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Bill L.
Format:Hardcover
Once and for all may the publishers stop calling Barks a translator. He is in his own right a fine poet but he has not translated Rumi from Persian or any other language.
The latest book from Ibrahim Gamard, "The Quatrains of Rumi" gives a fine example of excellent translation and scholarship. Buy both Barks and Gamard and make your own decisions on this important matter.
The latest book from Ibrahim Gamard, "The Quatrains of Rumi" gives a fine example of excellent translation and scholarship. Buy both Barks and Gamard and make your own decisions on this important matter.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The reading of this book has led me on many wonderful journeys. I found myself having to read slowly as the words were jumping from the lines, and I could spend hours journaling where they led. Love and lonliness, passion and pity, a hunger for God that both consoles and consumes, are all visited in this book. Read it slowly.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not so much
I was looking for the "essential" Rumi. I had to wander through an awful lot of verbiage that I did not expect. Read more
Published 23 days ago by Jessie Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Is there anything to say?
Anything Rumi is wonderful to read, anytime, anywhere. This translation is a good one. I would recommend it to anyone who has not read his work or for someone who knows Rumi's... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Anonymous
3.0 out of 5 stars
Translation, yes. Context, no.
This is a great, simple translation of Rumi's work to English. However reading it in English is like watching black & white television. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rando
5.0 out of 5 stars
New edition
I give this book to friends and was happy to see the new edition with added features, including but not limited to, regional recipes!
Published 6 months ago by CM
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is the best of Rumi
I have several Rumi books, this is by the most comprehensive.....it is a MUST for anyone that loves Rumi. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Fargo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Daily practice
I have used this book as a daily spiritual practice for over 10 years. In the morning, I ask Rumi to give me guidance on my day, then randomly open the book. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Morgan LMHC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great mystical poetry.
If you're into mysticism and you love poetry, then this book will be a pleasure to read.
The contents of the poems are diverse, sometimes short poems, sometimes long ones, and... Read more
The contents of the poems are diverse, sometimes short poems, sometimes long ones, and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ram de Leeuw
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent purchase
I am so pleased with this purchase. I received it in under one week and the condition is exellent!! Read more
Published 17 months ago by beth1959ish
3.0 out of 5 stars
American Beaknik Poetry
Coleman Barks and his publishers are guilty of false marketing: this book would accurately be described as a collection of Barks' poems "very loosely inspired by Rumi", rather than... Read more
Published on November 4, 2010 by Alessandro
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love Rumi
I really like Rumi and how he frames life, the human existence, God, Truth, Beauty, Love and all the other emotions and values. A brilliant poet! Read more
Published on February 20, 2010 by Misbah Rashid
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