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readcover2cover's review against another edition
3.0
I read Rumi first in my Middle Eastern Literature class at Mercyhurst. I really loved his poetry and bought this then to read. It took a few (like 7) years, but I finally got around to it.
I liked it! I didn't love it as much as I remember loving his poetry (although I read a different collection so maybe I liked that one better), but it was still good. There were a few gems.
Here are a few of my favorites:
"People want you to be happy.
Don't keep serving them your pain!
If you could untie your wings
and free your soul of jealousy,
you and everyone around you
would fly up like doves."
"If you love love,
look for yourself."
"You left the ground and sky weeping,
mind and soul full of grief.
No one can take your place in existence
or in absence . . ." (This poem about grief really got to me. It was longer than I wanted to post, but this was the beginning of it).
And finally:
"The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along."
Much of Rumi is so good. However, I kept reading it in small doses because I wasn't really in the mood for it. Still, it was a great collection and I hope to read more by him in the future!
I liked it! I didn't love it as much as I remember loving his poetry (although I read a different collection so maybe I liked that one better), but it was still good. There were a few gems.
Here are a few of my favorites:
"People want you to be happy.
Don't keep serving them your pain!
If you could untie your wings
and free your soul of jealousy,
you and everyone around you
would fly up like doves."
"If you love love,
look for yourself."
"You left the ground and sky weeping,
mind and soul full of grief.
No one can take your place in existence
or in absence . . ." (This poem about grief really got to me. It was longer than I wanted to post, but this was the beginning of it).
And finally:
"The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along."
Much of Rumi is so good. However, I kept reading it in small doses because I wasn't really in the mood for it. Still, it was a great collection and I hope to read more by him in the future!
hasseltkoffie's review against another edition
5.0
An ant hurries along a threshing floor
with its wheat grain, moving between huge stacks of wheat, not knowing the abundance
all around. It thinks its one grain
is all there is to love.
So we choose a tiny seed to be devoted to.
This body, one path or one teacher.
Look wider and farther.
The essence of every human being can see,
and what that essence-eye takes in,
the being becomes.
Drink from the presence of saints,
not from those other jars.
Every object, every being,
is a jar full of delight.
Be a connoisseur,
and taste with caution.
Any wine will get you high.
Judge like a king, and choose the purest,
the ones unadulterated with fear,
or some urgency about “what’s needed.”
Drink the wine that moves you
as a camel moves when it’s been untied,
and is just ambling about.
with its wheat grain, moving between huge stacks of wheat, not knowing the abundance
all around. It thinks its one grain
is all there is to love.
So we choose a tiny seed to be devoted to.
This body, one path or one teacher.
Look wider and farther.
The essence of every human being can see,
and what that essence-eye takes in,
the being becomes.
Drink from the presence of saints,
not from those other jars.
Every object, every being,
is a jar full of delight.
Be a connoisseur,
and taste with caution.
Any wine will get you high.
Judge like a king, and choose the purest,
the ones unadulterated with fear,
or some urgency about “what’s needed.”
Drink the wine that moves you
as a camel moves when it’s been untied,
and is just ambling about.
brennaareli's review against another edition
2.0
Too much of this went over my head for me to enjoy reading this. I wouldn't consider this poetry that is easily digestible, but maybe I would understand it better if I was a part of the culture. Even so, the book did have some good lines scattered throughout.
"I am so small I can barely be seen.
How can this great love be inside me?
Look at your eyes. They are small,
but they see enormous things."
"I am so small I can barely be seen.
How can this great love be inside me?
Look at your eyes. They are small,
but they see enormous things."
roses_readingspace's review against another edition
3.0
Rumi's little Book of life is a beautiful collection of 196 poems by Rumi originally written in Persian. Translated by native Persian speakers, Maryam Mafi and Azima Melita Kolin. It is a collection of mystical poetry focusing on one of life's core issues: coming to grips with the inner life. During the course of life, each of us is engaged on an inner journey. Rumi's little Book of life is a guidebook for that journey. The poetry is divided into three sections - soul, heart and spirit. The poems are written in such a way that it'll soothe your heart.
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I'm always hesitant to read poems because I find it difficult to understand the inner meaning they portray and I don't want to say I didn't like something because I was unable to understand it.
.
I read this book because it was one of the book recommendations for the readathon and I've always wanted to read something by Rumi. I won't say I understood all the poems but I understood most of them. It was actually a soothing read and I really felt good. Glad that I read something out of my comfort zone.
.
I'm always hesitant to read poems because I find it difficult to understand the inner meaning they portray and I don't want to say I didn't like something because I was unable to understand it.
.
I read this book because it was one of the book recommendations for the readathon and I've always wanted to read something by Rumi. I won't say I understood all the poems but I understood most of them. It was actually a soothing read and I really felt good. Glad that I read something out of my comfort zone.
nuts246's review against another edition
5.0
Lyrical translation
Like waves lapping the shore, the words of Rumi ebb and flows over you. Transporting you into union with the Beloved.
The beauty of this translation is that it retains the lyrical and soothing quality you expect.
Like waves lapping the shore, the words of Rumi ebb and flows over you. Transporting you into union with the Beloved.
The beauty of this translation is that it retains the lyrical and soothing quality you expect.
mkrultra's review against another edition
4.0
4 1/2 stars. Barks' brief lectures are occasionally illuminating, and this feels like a very mature interpretation of those works by Rumi that delve into the many different ways one can experience love.
girlbossed's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25