I am a firm believer that art is a salve for the soul. Just like I pop an Advil when I have a sore muscle, when my heart is what's ailing me, I rifle through my copy of The Essential Rumi and drink in a tonic of his verses. The poetry elevates my inner self.
I prescribe Rumi to nearly everyone I know - and I imagine I'm responsible for 1% of Coleman Barks' sales in the last five years. Kidding, but you get the picture.
Rumi, though, isn't for everyone. If Rumi isn't for you, I challenge you to search until you find the artist who speaks to you. Art can do amazing things. It can lift you from the doldrums of life, cure heartache, alleviate feelings of sadness and helplessness, and introduce you to worlds you've never known before. Seek it out. If the feeling strikes, create it yourself. Be brave.
The former was a digression from my true goal with this post, which is to continue my life quest of inundating those around me with the pieces of Rumi I find personally relevant at this particular moment. Sorry!
On further contemplation, maybe I ought to rename my blog, "Musings and Retypings of Rumi"
"The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."
"Work. Keep digging your well.
Don't think about getting off from work.
Water is there somewhere.
Submit to a daily practice.
Your loyalty to that
is a ring on the door.
Keep knocking, and the joy inside
will eventually open a window
and look out to see who's there."
"Be with those who help your being.
Don't sit with indifferent people, whose breath
comes cold out of their mouths.
Not these visible forms, your work is deeper."
No comments:
Post a Comment