The Pocket Rumi

"The Pocket Rumi Reader, " edited by Kabir Helminski, collects poetry written by Mevlana Jalaludin Rumi, described in the book's introduction as "a thirteenth-century Islamic saint." The poetry is divided up into three sections: rubaiyat (a form of lyric poetry), ghazels (another poetic form), and selections from Rumi's "Mathnawi" (a collection of couplets). The translations (from Persian) are by Helminski and others. Rumi's great theme throughout this book is the relationship between humankind and the divine. The poetry is full of rich imagery and marvelous turns of phrase; many of the poems have a parable-like quality. The book is very much rooted in Islamic tradition; along the way Rumi mentions Muhammad, sufis, dervishes, the Quran, and Quranic figures such as Jesus and Mary. But the book also attains a universal quality; Rumi's insights and observations strike me as particularly relevant to Christians and Jews, and at times his voice even reminds me of the Taoist, Buddhist, or Greek Stoic traditions. Rumi effectively draws on the tangible phenomena of the world in his poetic imagery: an oyster shell, apples, iron, grapes, a reed flute, and buttermilk are among the things the reader encounters. At his best he invites us to view such down-to-earth things with a fresh new perspective. Some of the individual poems that struck me the most are as follows. "This Marriage": a beautiful wedding blessing. "Intellect is a Shackle": conveys a potent spiritual lesson. "To Clutch at Madness": a celebration of the unconventional path, this poem reminded me of some of Emily Dickinson's work. "Consider" includes the insight, "Because of a fractured leg,/ God bestows a wing." "Boil Nicely Now" is a delightful yet powerful piece that draws a mystical lesson from a housewife's cooking of chickpeas. In this poem particularly, Rumi skillfully carries out a metaphor to a truly stunning conclusion. This book shows Rumi to be a master of poetic language. I was especially intrigued with his use of dialogue in certain poems. Many poems deal with the state of being on a spiritual quest. Indeed, Rumi seems to be pointing the way towards a deeper spirituality and humility that transcend religious legalism and conventionalism. I recommend this book to spiritual seekers of any (or no) theological orientation, and also to anyone who loves poetry that can transcend time and culture as it speaks to us with an invigorating freshness.