Love Is My Savior: The Arabic Poems of Rumi (Arabic Literature and Language) - Softcover

Rumi (author), Nesreen Akhtarkhavari (Translated By) & Anthony A. Lee (Translated By)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1611862000 ISBN 13: 9781611862003

Publisher: Michigan State University Press, 2016

Synopsis

This new volume of Rumi’s works, the first-ever English translation of his Arabic poems, will be exciting for the newcomer to Rumi’s verses as well as to readers already familiar with his mystical philosophy. The poems take the reader on a journey of spiritual exploration, ecstatic union, cruel rejection, and mystic reconciliation. Rumi reveals his soul and welcomes everyone to his spiritual feast. This dual-language volume opens a treasury of Rumi’s mystic thought and startling poetry. His verses pulsate with desire and longing, with sensuality, and with ecstatic celebration. Rumi found in his mystic poetry a vehicle for the expression of the endless spiritual bounties of love. He placed love at the center of his faith and doctrine, and he pronounced it to be the goal of his life and the only form of true worship. This collection is stunningly rendered in English by an award-winning poet and a distinguished translator of Arabic poetry.

About this title

About the Author

Nesreen Akhtarkhavari is the Director of Arabic Studies at DePaul University, where she teaches Arabic literature, translation, content Arabic courses, and language and culture pedagogy.

Anthony A. Lee is a lecturer of history at UCLA and at West Los Angeles College, specializing in African American history, African history, and the African Diaspora in Iran.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Love Is My Savior

The Arabic Poems of Rumi

By Nesreen Akhtarkhavari, Anthony A. Lee

Michigan State University Press

Copyright © 2016 Nesreen Akhtarkhavari and Anthony A. Lee
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-61186-200-3

Contents

PREFACE, 
LEAVE BEHIND TEMPTATION, 
Let's Be Pure, 
Rejoice in Silence, 
Banner of Love, 
I Fell in Love with Angels, 
He Stole My Heart!, 
YOU SANG OF LOVE, 
You Sang of Love, So We Came, 
The Price of Love, 
Drunken Brothers, 
This Eye, 
He's Never Bored with Love, 
What Happened to Me?, 
Have Mercy!, 
COME, LET'S PRAY, 
We're All Drunk, 
Come, Let's Pray!, 
Night Visitors, 
The Cupbearer Will Explain, 
Rising Moon, 
CRUEL REJECTION, 
Separation, 
A Dream, 
Palace of Perfection, 
What Do You See?, 
Light of My Soul, 
Love Is My Savior, 
It Was a Celebration!, 
Longing, 
GOOD NEWS!, 
Come to My House, 
Glad Tidings!, 
Your Wine Lights the World, 
Peace Is the Path, 
Hidden Beauty, 
I Climbed to Heaven, 
Good News!, 
Judgment Day, 
APPENDIX, 

CHAPTER 1

Leave Behind Temptation

    Let's Be Pure

    Come on! Come on! Come on, now! Let's be pure.
    Let's end our flirtation with temptation,
    let your glance cleanse us of degradation,
    return to the pure wine we drank when we
    sat in congregation, the cups passed 'round
    and offered up with no hesitation,
    pure, cool, shimmering nectar of salvation.
    We drank in secret — some days in the street.
    Our wine's perfume was carried off so far
    even the desert beasts yearned for its sweet.
    But you're the key that opens up the jars
    of that red flow, when friends sit at your feet.
    There, every priceless thing becomes a lie.
    There, drunk on wine and drunk on you, I lie.
    I love and drink, and when I hate I die.
    My friends, forgive me! My Lord, hear my cry!
    I'm melting with desire and love's duty
    for my Master — Just look at his beauty! —
    my refuge from death and calamity.
    May God bless any land where Shams may be!
    God gave Tabriz the best of his bounty.


    Rejoice in Silence

    People, rejoice! His gate is open wide.
    We are not alone — we're saved at his side.
    People, rejoice! This is the day of grace!
    Your lover holds the Holy Book in place.
    Don't fret about the things that you have lost.
    The full Moon rose! It scattered all that dross.
    Camp here! Tie your camel at this station.
    This is heaven past all calculation.
    In love's shame, there is a secret silence,
    the silence of fidelity. No words.
    Be silent! Know the secret of silence.
    Be patient!

Edition details

• Publisher: Michigan State University Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1611862000
• ISBN 13: 9781611862003
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 108