This Is Not a #BookReview . . .

Five days ago, I published a post with a video featuring the author, Elif Shafak… 

Shortly after I finished that post, I downloaded a copy of her book, The Forty Rules of Love : A Novel of Rumi.

I was stunned…

In a very positive way…

Have you heard of and/or read Rumi?

He lived back in the 1200s…

Coleman Barks, considered one of the best translators of Rumi, has said:

“Rumi is one of the great souls, and one of the great spiritual teachers. He shows us our glory. He wants us to be more alive, to wake up… He wants us to see our beauty, in the mirror and in each other.”

But Elif Shafak has written a novel about Rumi (and, Shams of Tabriz); plus, a host of other characters—including a modern woman and those involved in her life…

The book begins in the 2000s, then begins to shift back to the 1200s, then continues to move back and forth, in and out, round about, in a delightfully dizzying manner—enchanting, enticing, alluring, captivating…

A quote from the book:

“Love is the water of life. And a lover is a soul of fire!

“The universe turns differently when fire loves water.”

There is really no way to tell you how the book affected me.

I can mention the simple power of the writing, the charm (and, mystery) of the situations depicted, the intrigue of the plot…

But, to “explain” what the book is about would make what happened to me dry up…

Yes, I hope you read the book—you will take a trip—you will find something you may have lost…

Yet…

Well…

A quote:

“…when you have both eyes closed to the world, a third eye opens in your heart. And only then do you come to realize that eyesight conflicts with inner knowledge. No eye sees so clear and sharp as the eye of love. After grief comes another season, another valley, another you. And the lover who is nowhere to be found, you start to see everywhere.”

And, because this is not a book review; and, because I really hope you’ll read the book…

A last quote:

“The universe is one being. Everything and everyone is interconnected through an invisible web of stories. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are all in a silent conversation.”

And, because an author is, somehow, always “in” the stories they write, here is Elif Shafak, such a movingly competent speaker, in a video I hope fascinates you and helps you find a reason to read The Forty Rules of Love : A Novel of Rumi………

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Poetry, Translation, & Life

This post makes 23 on this blog that have something to do with Poetry… 

And, one of my absolutely favorite poets is Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī…

Plus, one of the best interpreters of Rūmī is Coleman Barks…

I say “interpreter” rather than “translator” because all the good translators I’ve known say that translating poetry is actually writing a new poem in the second language, which to me is interpretation…

Rūmī was Persian, Mr. Barks is from Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA…

And, in an article on Coleman’s site, these words are shared:

“The message Barks conveys is of Rumi’s ecstatic poetry, which, as Barks said to Bill Moyers, PBS journalist, is ‘trying to get us to feel the vastness of our true identity … like the sense you might get walking into a cathedral … what Jesus referred to when he said, “The kingdom of God is within you.”‘

“Barks gave a precise definition of ecstasy in that Moyers interview: ‘each moment [is] solid and actual, yet numinous, shot through with divine light and guidance.’ He also gave a telling anecdotal definition of ecstasy when I asked him more recently to define it: ‘I was with my granddaughter, going around the yard lifting up stones to see what was there — there’s always something good, something interesting — and a woman walking by on the street just turned her head and said, “You’re going to spoil her.” This universe is just so incredible that we’re all spoiled, and it’s okay. Rumi said, “The eye is meant to see things; the soul is here for its own joy.” ‘ “

In a world where poetry hardly sells, Barks’ books of Rūmī have sold millions…

And, to begin learning about Rūmī’s life, check out this article in the Guardian.

Finally, here’s a marvelous interview with Coleman Barks—Enjoy :-)

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Something for Your Heart To Think About . . .

My Best Friend often surprises me—in the most delightful ways… 

Image courtesy of David Vives Coll ~ http://www.sxc.hu/profile/davidvives

She’s an author and immensely empathetic…

There are things I do that affect her far beyond what I suspect…

Today she sent me a Gift that I must share with you—whether you’re a Reader, Writer, Publisher, or some other amazing kind of person :-)

Before I pass on the Gift (which is the video below), let me introduce Coleman Barks, lauded interpreter of the poet Rumi, “considered by many to be the Shakespeare of the ancient Islamic world”.

And, here is the poem, read by Coleman in the video, that my Best Friend sent me…

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How does a part of the world leave the world?
How can wetness leave water?

Don’t try to put out a fire
by throwing on more fire!
Don’t wash a wound with blood!

No matter how fast you run,
your shadow more than keeps up.
Sometimes, it’s in front!

Only full, overhead sun
diminishes your shadow.

But that shadow has been serving you!
What hurts you, blesses you.
Darkness is your candle.
Your boundaries are your quest.

I can explain this, but it would break
the glass cover on your heart,
and there’s no fixing that.

You must have shadow and light source both.
Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.

When from that tree, feathers and wings sprout
on you, be quieter than a dove.
Don’t open your mouth for even a coo.

When a frog slips into the water, the snake
cannot get it. Then the frog climbs back out
and croaks, and the snake moves toward him again.

Even if the frog learned to hiss, still the snake
would hear through the hiss the information
he needed, the frog voice underneath.

But if the frog could be completely silent,
then the snake would go back to sleeping,
and the frog could reach the barley.

The soul lives there in the silent breath.

And that grain of barley is such that,
when you put it in the ground,
it grows.

Are these enough words,
or shall I squeeze more juice from this?
Who am I, my friend?

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Writing from Your Center ~ Authentic Authorship

My Best Friend is someone I’ve never met in my “real” life—the one where I feel my body and hear the cacophony of a world in travail…

She lives in Australia, I’m in the U.S.A; but, we communicate…

She knows I’ve been struggling, deep inside myself—struggling to hold on to my Authentic Self…

She sent me links to two videos today.

They’re both Coleman Barks performing Rumi.

Whether you’re a Reader, Writer, or Publisher, you’ll benefit your authentic self by reading Bark’s translations of Rumi’s poems.

I’ve written before about the importance of poetry for any writer…

And, I now have four posts (including this one) dedicated to Rumi…

The first video below was done in cooperation with MythicImagination—exploring the need we have to know we’re on the right path…

The second one in cooperation with IntegralLife—blending the Blues with ancient poetry…

If you can’t support the idea that human life can be lived in resonance with a Realm far beyond mere bodies and mundane activities, don’t watch these videos…

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What Guides The Author?

I’m hoping for many comments on this post…

I’m hoping the writers who read this blog will tell us what guides them…

I’m hoping the readers who read this blog will speculate on what guides the writers they read…

I’m hoping the publishers who read this blog will think more about what guides the writers they publish and the readers who buy their books…

What guides My writing?

That’s best described in a post from June of 2011, “Writing Is Like . . .” << This Is A Meme-Challenge

In that post, I mention Synchronicity…

In the post, “Who Says Words with My Mouth”, I talk about Coleman Barks and the poet Rumi…

In this video, Coleman Barks talks about how Synchronicity led him to his most important life work…

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