The Dome of the Inner SkyThe Great King is within me.
He is my dearest friend.
Don't look at my sallow face,
Look at how I stand with legs of iron!
Always turning toward that one
who gave me life.
I am the glorious Sun,
the ocean laden with pearls.
Within my heart is the grandeur of heaven,
Outside, the lowly earth.
I travel in this world like a bee in a jar.
But don't listen to my woeful buzzing
My house is filled with honey!
O heart, if you want to join us,
raise yourself
to the dome of the inner sky
Enter the fortress that no one can break.
The vast and mighty waters
move the grinding stones of heaven.
I am that great wheel,
crying so sweetly,
turning with the flow of rushing water.
Men, demons, and spirits all follow my command.
Can't you see that I am Solomon,
With a shimmering seal on my ring?
Why should I be weary
when every cell of my body is bursting with life?
Why should I be a donkey's slave
when I ride upon a magical horse?
Why should I be less than the Moon
when there are no scorpions at my feet?
Why should I stay at the bottom of a well
when a strong rope is in my hand?
I've built a place for the falcons of my soul
Fly this way, O birds of spirit,
for I am surrounded by a hundred mighty towers!
I am the rays of the Sun
dancing through the windows of every house.
I am carnelion, gold, and rubies,
even though this body is made of water and clay.
Whatever pearl you seek,
look for the pearl within the pearl!
The surface of the earth says,
"The treasure is within."
The glowing jewel says,
"Don't be fooled by my beauty
the light of my face
comes from the candle of my spirit."
What else can I say?
You will only hear
what you are ready to hear.
Don't nod your head,
Don't try to fool me
the truth of what you see
is written all over your face!
Translated by Jonathan Star, from the book
Rumi, In the Arms of the Beloved
I have recently been directed to Persian poetry and found this fellow Mevlana Jalal-e-Din Mohammad Mevlavi Balkhi Rumi who has been related much lately, in english. Born 1207 AD or 6th Rai'u-'l-avval 604 A.H. (don't hold me to this persian date, I am only quoting, but would love to know what "A.H." represents) in NE Persia which is presently Afghanistan. Lived in Baghdad for awhile I see. I wonder what he would have see there then?
The photo is titled "Door" and is by a Gate Photo under name of "Persian Architect" in Dubai. This is a picture of a gate in Teheran, Iran.
Once you find Rumi, you never find your way back. A good thing...
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite, Goatman (in case you haven't found it yet)
"The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."
Goatman,
ReplyDeleteWOW......WOW........WOW........WOW
I, too, recently stumbled upon Rumi in a book actually - it had a quote on the first page.....I was enchanted by his words immediately....his quote is one of my all time favorites.......this poem is so full and rich of life: outer, inner, universal....what a lovely choice....Sensitive soul that you are, I think Rumi is a perfect fit for you. Here's hoping that spring has lifted your spirits and so has Rumi.....
red dirt girl
goatman,
ReplyDeleterumi is one of my favorite mystics...his poems of the divine experriences are amazing..but yet, you can enjoy them on many different levels..
Jalaluddin rumi lived a long while ago...in the thirteenth century, a grea saint and it is a testament to the simple beauty and truth of his poems that he grows more popular each passing generation..and esp so now whne everyone is seeking the expereince of truth.
lovely choice! never ead this one before...thank you!!
No take this:
ReplyDeleteI am reading this poem, and tears are welling up in my eyes, and I am telling myself "Who the hell is this doing this to me" and ... THERE, Rumi!
Isn't it amazing how his poems stand the brutal mutilation (imposed on any poem) by translation?
Now imagine, if you read this in Persian (which I am yet to figure out which one of his poems it is), with the most incredible beat and rhythm ...
A-H means After Hejrat: It refers to when Prophet Mohammad was forced out of Mecca and moved to Medina; this is the basis of the Islamic Calendar. Now there is a catch:
Arabic calendar is a lunar one; Persian one is solar!
Persians accepted Hejrat as the basis of Calendar after Islam ws brough to Iran; but they did not let go of the accurate solar calendar, as they were already well advanced in astronomy. So, the present Iranian calendar is 1386 AH; but the arabic year is 1428 AH. (Arabic years are 354 days, Persian ones 365)
Confusing heh?
But anyways, we say Rumi was a poet of the (early) 7th (lunar AH) century.
I am happy you and your visitors like Rumi.
A have a book called "The Way of the Sufi" (I think) by Idris Shah; a good bit of it is devoted to Rumi and indeed you do hear him mentioned more and more. We in the West need to look to the East a little more, what with the world being small and all.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful. I'm amazed it was translated, it flows wonderfully!
ReplyDeletethanks for posting it...I shall now seek him out!
Gorgeous photo, mesmerizing words.
ReplyDeleteI have stumbled upon Rumi just recently (and I do mean stumbled).
Looking forward to doing more research and seeking out his soulful words.
Yeah Goatman!
ReplyDeleteGreat Poem
Gowing with trhe flow
the words carry one along ...
"I travel through this world like a bee in a jar...."
ReplyDelete"I am the rays of the Sun
dancing through the windows of every house."
I love how each time I read this poem Goatman, new lines reach out to me and touch me.....how I wish that I had written them.....these images....I wish to be the Sun dancing....I wish my world be larger than a jar (even if it is filled with honey.....)
so good to see you on the blogs....
happy spring to you,
xx
rdg
hey! who's the strange one here?
ReplyDeleteI might be a mule - cat...but you're a goat - man......so.so.so.....there!!! HA!
Happy bunny day to you.....
rdkitty-mule
Stopping by to say hello and catch up... very interesting! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good weekend.
I needed to stop by and catch-up, too! Thanks for the visit. Artistically I have not been very creative lately but my spirituality has been flowing strongly. It seems I go through phases of one or the other; I'd love to see the two work together!
ReplyDeleteI love the poetry of Rumi, by the way!
I have to say that, after reading this poem many times as I wander, I wonder what some of it means? I would like to see another translation; that or I may have to learn the Persian language! Yeah, thats gonna happen!
ReplyDeleteHello Goatman...thanks for the visit to the blog. Having come here I wonder why I was never here before. The first thing to catch my eye was a poem from Rumi-one of my favorite poets. I find this mystic's words really hit the core of one's soul.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is interesting, honest and straightforward. I shall be back to read much more.
WOW!!! Thanks Goatman. Thanks everybody else. I'm hitting the bookstore as soon as I can. WoW!
ReplyDeleteThe one Goatman posted, it makes so much sense! Have you read the convesations between Bill Mayers and Joseph Campbell on the power of myth? WOW! Its amazing how they all conform!! WOW!!
Btw...loved the rooster post!