I am not Me.
And, if I were to become Me for even a moment,
I would crush this world to pieces.
If I were to merge with the One who took my heart,
if I were to become Him,
like a tree, I would uproot myself from this world.
Rubailer (2016), Rubai 4, page 486.
The Rubailer of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (apprx.pub.spring2024) Volume 3, Rubai 1081.
Even if your Beloved is like fire, jump into that fire. Keep burning.
On the night of separation, burn like a candle. Melt.
Don’t be contrary. Make peace. Blend in friendship.
If they rip your dress,
keep sewing the dress of Union. Continue reading “Burn (12/31/2023)”
Lovers, keep working hard.
When you become free from the soul and flesh,
your heart will become free from the heavy burden of your body.
It will fly to the sky. Continue reading “The Real Sky (12/17/2023)”
Leave to others the endless job
of the improvement of this Earth.
This whole world
is worth less than a ruined caravanserai,*
less than a small coin,
less even than a grain of barley.
*A roadside inn along a caravan route.
Rubailer (2016), Rubai 2, page 441.
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (pubwinter2024), Rubai 1079, Volume 3.
I am the wind. You are a leaf.
When I blow, how could you remain still?
If I give you an order, how could you ignore it?
Since I have thrown a stone and broken your jar,
aren’t you worth hundreds of oceans, hundreds of pearls?
Rubailer (2016), Rubai 4, page 484.
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations, Rubai 1036, Volume 3.
You spilled the Water of Life
in order to save water to wash your face.
You wasted sugar and honey
and put poison in your mouth. Continue reading “It is Not Worth It (8/27/2023)”
The Beloved came with that wine glass like a torch in His hand.
“Come,” He said. “Be my friend.”
“How nice,” I answered. “I will, right away.” Continue reading “Plunge into God’s Sea (7/30/2023)”
If I had known my own value,
I would not have fooled around with this dirty world.
I would have emptied myself from self and ascended quickly.
I would have raised my head above the ninth level of the sky.
Rubailer (2016), Rubai 1, page 475.
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (apprx.pub.fall2023), Rubai 1456, Volume 4.
O one whose heart is full of words, yet remains silent,
Read the chapter, Hel Eta, in the Quran.*
Read the epigram, La Feta.**
Put on the tent of soul at the top of the sky.
Raise the waves from the sea of the heart.
Tear the bag of existence.
Let those two or three water carriers go. Continue reading “Tell Us (7/16/2023)”
If hundreds of long days were joined together
as one very long day,
my soul would not complain about it.
On the contrary, it would be content.
It would stand still and cry from the pain of Love.
You are smiling at my words,
because you are still a cold man of knowledge,
not a crazy man of Love.
Rubailer (2016), Rubai 1, page 469.
The Rubaiyat of Rumi, The Ergin Translations (apprx.pub.fall 2023), Rubai 1003, Volume 3.