Friday, July 30, 2010

quatrain 163

From sunlight, two interpretations of quatrain #163:
What is this day with two suns in the sky?
Day unlike other days,
with a great voice giving it to the planet,
Here it is, enamored beings, your day!

Version by Coleman Barks
"Unseen Rain"
Threshold Books, 1986

what type of day is this
with two shining suns
a day beyond and above
every day known
a whirling cosmos is endowing
and calling everyone on earth
good news to those in love
call today your own

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame
Cal-Earth Press, 2001

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Thursday, July 08, 2010

quatrain 167

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #167, with almost diametrically opposed meanings:
The Friend comes into my body
looking for the center, unable
to find it, draws a blade,
strikes anywhere.

Version by Coleman Barks
"Unseen Rain"
Threshold Books, 1986

In a dream my lover came
searching through my body
for the state of love.
When he could not find it
he drew his dagger and stabbed
my heart.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Hidden Music
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001

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