Building Bridges through the Enchanted Medium of Poetry
Rumi Poem: Freedom
In this moment, I am entwined in the vine of love In this moment I have abandoned care for consequence Oh humans, I’m no longer one of you The bravest men won’t dare come near my heart Mad men run away at the sight of my passion I make love to death Nothingness is my...
We Couldn’t Sing. We Couldn’t Dance
The happiest moment of my life occurred on the day I held in my hands the golden ticket, the winning lottery, the thing I desired most in the world — a visa to America. Since then, life has gifted me many remarkable moments, but none have been as electrifying. I was a...
Rumi Poem: Be Silent
Last night I became mad. Love saw me and said: I am here. Don’t shout, don’t wail. Just be silent! Don’t talk about the mundane, talk of nothing but beauty. I am the servant of this magnificence. Just be silent! I said: O Love, what I fear is something else. Love...
Rumi Poem: The Song of the Reed
Listen to the story of the reed As it laments the pain of separation: Since they have cut me from my reed bed My wails bring tears to both woman and man Those ripped away from their beloved know my song Having been cut from the source, they long to return In...
Poem by Anonymous: The only way to get drunk
You have opened your door to this ecstatic peasant Now I can drink the eternal wine From your divine cup I am the madman, Majnoon, in servitude to you, my Leili I have become free of both worlds So I can be your captive This fiery passion that lights the lovers’ eyes,...
Tahireh Poem: Song of Tahireh
If, per chance, I were to catch a glimpse of the radiance of your face my sorrows would have no choice but to stumble into the light The knife of our separation has cut me: tears of blood streams upon streams rivers upon rivers Not wanting to wait like lazarus in my...