Book Cover

Roar lion of the heart, and tear me open!

# Review

I’ve been trying to consistently read more poetry and for 2022, I read a Rumi poem a day.

Rumi, a Sufi mystic, was one of the rare religious figures that are respected by those from both within and outside of their religion. Rumi’s poetry, while deeply spiritual and religious, resonates with the general human experience. His poems are filled with imagery, analogies, and metaphors that depict spiritual experience, such as love and passionate surrender (both to God and to fellow humans).

Rumi uses a great deal of natural imagery, such as a moth drawn to a flame to depict his relationship with God and blossoming trees to depict life and renewal. I particularly enjoyed reading his more philosophical musings, such as his focus on the ephemeral and his focus on emptiness.

While writing this I found out that Barks doesn't actually know any Persian and the poems in this book are his interpretations of Rumi's works based on other English translations. On one hand Barks was a student of Sufism but on the other much could have been lost in the multiple translations and interpretations of Rumi's works. Maybe I'll have to learn Persian to read the source material in the intended language. I also felt that some of the more specific context surrounding the poems, such as Rumi's reverence for his teacher Shams, could have been explained.

# Conclusion

A passionate collection of poetry.

# Overall rating: 8.1

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