The essential Rumi
By: translated by Coleman Barks, with John Moyne, A.A. Arberry, Reynold Nicholson.
Contributors: Barks, Coleman.
Publisher: Castle Books
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Edison, NJ
Language: eng
Number of pages: 302
Subjects: Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, -- Maulana, -- 1207-1273 -- Translations into English; Sufi poetry, Persian -- Translations into English
Genres: Translations into English.
Work titles: Selections.
Description: Jelaluddin Rumi was born in the year 1207 and until the age of thirty-seven was a brilliant scholar and popular teacher. But his life changed forever when he met the powerful wandering dervish, Shams of Tabriz, of whom Rumi said, "What I had thought of before as God, I met today in a human being." From this mysterious and esoteric friendship came a new height of spiritual enlightenment.  When Shams disappeared, Rumi began his transformation from scholar to artist, and his poetry began to fly.  Today, the ecstatic poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi is more popular than ever, and Coleman Barks, through his musical and magical translations, has been instrumental in bringing this exquisite literature to devoted followers.  Now, for the first time, Barks has gathered the essential poems of Rumi and put them together in this wonderful comprehensive collection that delights with playful energy and unequaled passion.  The Essential Rumi offers the most beautiful rendering of the primary poetry of Rumi to both devoted enthusiasts and novice readers. Poems about everything from bewilderment, emptiness, and silence to flirtation, elegance, and majesty are presented with love, humor, warmth, and tenderness.  Take in the words of Jelaluddin Rumi and feel yourself transported to the magical, mystical place of a whirling, ecstatic poet.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-302) and index.
Table of contents: title: On Rumi; title: Note on the organization of this book; title: Tavern: Whoever brought me here will have to take me home; title: Bewilderment: I have five things to say; title: Emptiness and silence: Night air; title: Spring giddiness: Stand in the wake of this chattering and grow airy; title: Feeling separation: Don't come near me; title: Controlling the desire-body: How did you kill your rooster, Husam?; title: Sohbet: Meetings on the riverbank; title: Being a lover: Sunrise ruby; title: Pickaxe: Getting to the treasure beneath the foundation; title: Art as flirtation with surrender: Wanting new silk harp strings; title: Union: Gnats inside the wind; title: Sheikh: I have such a teacher; title: Recognizing  elegance: Your reasonable father; title: Howling necessity: Cry out in your weakness; title: Teaching stories: How the unseen world works; title: Rough metaphors: More teaching stories; title: Solomon poems: Far mosque; title: Three fish: Gamble everything for love; title: Jesus poems: Population of the world; title: In  Baghdad, dreaming of Cairo: More teaching stories; title: Beginning and end: Stories that frame the Mathnawi; title: Green ears everywhere: Children running through; title: Being woven: Communal practice; title: Wished-for song: Secret practices; title: Majesty: This we have now; title: Evolutionary intelligence: Say I am you; title: Turn: Dance in your blood; title: Note on these translations and a few recipes.