Beautiful free translations of the Sufi master that dispense with rhyme and meter, but capture the Zen-like quality of Rumi's parables.

The new poems in the expanded edition are just as good as the old. ( )

Passionate, ecstatic poems from the 13th century Sufi poet, Jelaluddin Rumi. Coleman Barks gets these translations just exactly right. If you are going to take a book of poems to a desert island, take this one. (And, maybe, the Book of Questions by Pablo Neruda.) I take my well-thumbed copy on my travels. I can open it anywhere and be immediately transported into a different place. If you ever run across a recording of Barks reading this poetry with his jazz band, snatch it up. It will be the best present you ever bought yourself. ( )

THE ESSENTIAL RUMI is a more than worthy introduction to the enchanted spiritual poetics of Jalaluddin Rumi.

Rumi’s famed mad dancing and his inspired utterances of pure genius gave birth to a major religious order known today as the Whirling Dervishes. His writings have influenced not only Persian literature but world literature and world spirituality. His richly inspired work has been translated and published in languages all over the globe. In English alone, there are more than a dozen writers and scholars who frequently publish volumes of Rumi’s work. Interpretations of his poetry have been recorded as musical compositions by such diverse individuals as motivational speaker Deepak Chopra and famed music producers Graeme Revell and Roger Mason, among numerous others.

In addition, calendars, biographies, web sites, and discussion groups all based on the life and passion of Rumi are in plentiful supply. Rumi himself in many parts of the world is greatly revered as a saint. When he died, representatives from every major religion hailed him as one of their own.

Aberjhani
author of VISIONS OF A SKYLARK DRESSED IN BLACK
and ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE ( )

Beautiful free translations of the Sufi master that dispense with rhyme and meter, but capture the Zen-like quality of Rumi's parables. ( )

Beautiful free translations of the Sufi master that dispense with rhyme and meter, but capture the Zen-like quality of Rumi's parables. ( )

This book is one of my all-time favorites. One wonders how much of the poetry is Rumi and how much is Barks. Whatever the ratio, the poetry ranges from searingly beautiful, to raucous, to raunchy. One of the few books that can bring tears to my eyes from laughter, sadness and beauty. ( )