This lovely poem by e.e. cummings sounds like it could have been written by Rumi: [i carry your heart with me(i carry it in] by e.e. cummings i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)i am never without it(anywhere i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your…
Moses and the Shepherd
One my favorite stories from the Masnavi, its dialectic is brilliant and dizzying… Translation: How Moses, on whom be peace, took offence at the prayer of the shepherd. 1720. Moses saw a shepherd on the way, who was saying, “O God who choosest (whom Thou wilt), Where art Thou, that I may become Thy servant and…
Bright Night, Dark Day
Shabistari The Rose Garden of Mystery (verses 122-130) Reason’s light applied to the Essence of Lights is like the eye of the head looking at the brilliance of the Sun when the object seen is very close to the eye The eye is darkened so that it cannot see it This blackness, if you know it, is…
Rumi and Bossa Nova
Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes Translation: Me without you, there’s no reason Because without you, I can’t even cry I’m flame without light, garden without moonlight Moonlight without love, love that’s not given And without you I’m only lovelorn A ship without sea, a field without flower Sadness that goes, sadness that comes Without you,…
Hamza el-Din—Desse Barama
One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite artists: Translation: The world shines about me, luminous as the moon, smiling like a rose, and a sweet benediction flows through everything existing. How beautiful life is. I marvel at people who are not in love with life. You, my girl, are beautiful, and your…
Shaykh al-Yadālī’s Praise of the Prophet
Translation: The blessings of my Lord with peace upon my beloved, the best of creation Clear and translucent, close by at hand kind, affectionate, the lion of the gallant Thus is the Hashimi prophet Thus is the Exalted, the Guide, the Tihami* Thus is the Elevated, saviour of the Invincible Thus is the intercessor on the Day…
For the Mawlid
These short Arabic verses by the Persian poet Sa’adi are some of the best known and loved praises on the Prophet: Translation: He attained eminence by his perfection The darkness was lifted by his beauty Lovely are all of his qualities Blessings upon him and his family Original: بلغ العلى بكماله كشف الدجى بجماله…
Ibn ‘Arabi: Interpreter of Desires
A beautiful recording of Ibn ‘Arabi’s poetry sung in a ḥaḍrah: Translation: Poem 1: Who will show me her of the dyed fingers? Who will show me her of the honeyed tongue? She is one of the girls with swelling breasts who guard their honour, tender, virgin, and beautiful Full moons over branches:…
Boutchichi Ḥaḍrah
Some of the finest recordings of Ḥaḍrah music I’ve found online are these recordings of a Boutchichi gathering in which they sing a poem by Shaykh ‘abd al-Raḥman Shaghouri : Translation: The Saqi approahced us and presented the cup to us So we sipped and quenched our thirst from the cups of Hamza (al-Hashim…
If only they knew the subtleties of Layla’s love…
Translation: If only they understood the subtleties of Layla’s love Her love would be all they needed to experience of love If he meets someone from Layla’s neighborhood he’ll abase himself before him and fall to pieces If not for her, he wouldn’t have been abased Kissing this wall and that until he becomes carried away in love for…