Rumi on resurrection

From sunlight:

i was ready to tell
the story of my life
but the ripple of tears
and the agony of my heart
wouldn't let me

i began to stutter
saying a word here and there
and all along i felt
as tender as a crystal
ready to be shattered

in this stormy sea
we call life
all the big ships
come apart
board by board

how can i survive
riding a lonely
little boat
with no oars
and no arms

my boat did finally break
by the waves
and i broke free
as i tied myself
to a single board

though the panic is gone
i am now offended
why should i be so helpless
rising with one wave
and falling with the next

i don't know
if i am
nonexistence
while i exist
but i know for sure
when i am
i am not
but
when i am not
then i am

now how can i be
a skeptic
about the
resurrection and
coming to life again

since in this world
i have many times
like my own imagination
died and
been born again

that is why
after a long agonizing life
as a hunter
i finally let go and got
hunted down and became free

Translation by Nader Khalili
"Rumi -- Fountain of Fire"

quatrain 45

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #45:

there is a soul
within your soul
seek it out
there is a tresure
in your mountain
seek it out
a mystic in motion
if that’s what you are
don’t seek out there
seek inside

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame

There is a force within
Which gives you life –
     seek That.
In your body
Lies a priceless gem –
     seek That.
O wandering Sufi,
     if you want to find
     the greatest treasure
     Don’t look outside,
Look inside, and seek That.

Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
A Garden Beyond Paradise

quatrain 84

From sunlight, two further versions of quatrain #84, to add to the Houshmand version discussed at my thoughts on dreams:

don’t think too much
put yourself to sleep
thinking is a veil
on the face of the moon
your heart is like the moon
don’t cover it with thought
cast your thinking on the water

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame

Don’t think. Don’t get lost in your thoughts.
Your thoughts are a veil on the face of the Moon.
That Moon is your heart,
     and those thoughts cover your heart.
So let them go.
     Just let them fall into the water.

Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
A Garden Beyond Paradise

...

quatrain 14

From sunlight, two further versions of quatrain #14, to add to two versions by Houshmand discussed at to be or not to be.

i was first seduced by love
then put in a fire of agonies
as i won the mastery
of the beloved
the beloved dropped me
and was gone

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame

First, he tempted me
with infinite caresses.
He burnt me in the end
with pain and sorrow.
In this game of chess
I had to lose myself
in order to win Him.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved

quatrain 1408

From Sunlight, three versions of quatrain #1408, to add to the Houshmand version discussed under true gold:

O my Beloved!
Take me,
Liberate my soul,
Fill me with your love,
and release me from both worlds.

If I set my heart
On anything but you,
O fire, burn me from inside!

O my Beloved
Take away what I want,
Take away what I do,
Take away everything
that takes me from you.

Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
A Garden Beyond Paradise

take me in my love
take my soul
set me on ecstasy
take both of my worlds
if I rest my heart on
anything but you
throw me with fireball
take everything I hold

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame

My Friend,
I offer You my life.
Accept me, make me drunk
and save me from both worlds.
Set me on fire
if my heart settles on anything
but You.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved

quatrain 67

From Sunlight, three versions of quatrain #67:

Sometimes I feel like a king,
sometimes I moan in my own prison.
Swaying between these states
I can't be proud of myself.
This "I" is a figment of my imagination.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved

I thought I had self-control,
so I regretted times I didn't.

With that considering over, the one thing I know
is I don't know who I am.

Version by Coleman Barks
"Unseen Rain"

there was a time
when my thought
soared as a king
or a time when I mourned
like a prisoner
those days are gone
and I have promised
not to take myself
seriously again

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame

quatrain 62

From Sunlight, three versions of quatrain #62:

If you want to live, leave your banks,
as a small stream enters the Oxus, miles wide,
or as cattle moving around a millstone
suddenly circle to the top of the sphere.

Version by Coleman Barks
"Unseen Rain"

Are you searching for your soul?
Then come out of your prison.
Leave the stream and join the river
that flows into the ocean.
Absorbed in this world
you’ve made it your burden.
Rise above this world.
There is another vision…

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved

if you want to find yourself
leave yourself alone
wade in no little creek
swim in the big flow
you are that bull
who carries the world
revolt for once
and topple the globe.

Translation by Nader Khalili
Rumi, Dancing the Flame

quatrain 1141

From Sunlight, two more versions of quatrain 1141, to add to the Houshmand version discussed at the best joy.

I can't let you know
all the secrets
I can't open to you
all the doors
there is something inside
that makes me happy
but I can't put my finger
on its source

Translation by Nader Khalili

The secrets are bursting inside me
but to give them away and
expose them to mockery, I cannot.
Something inside me is bursting with joy
but to put my finger on it, I cannot.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi

quatrain 97

From Sunlight, three interpretations of Quatrain 97:

Our drunkenness does not come from wine.
The joy of our gathering
does not come from the harp or rubaab.
With no celestial beauty to fill our cup,
Without friends, without singing, without wine,
We burst out like madmen,
rolling drunk on the floor.

Version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
A Garden Beyond Paradise
Bantam Books, 1992

We don't need wine to get drunk,
or instruments and singing to feel ecstatic.
No poets, no leaders, no songs,
yet we jump around totally wild.

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

i don't really need wine
to get drunk
i don't really need music
to feel delight
without a wine pal
music and dance
i'm intoxicated
happy and gone

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

quatrain 1955

From Sunlight, two interpretations of Quatrain #1955:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The birds have flown to freedom,
The cage lies empty.
Your happy songs bring to me the scent of heaven.
Please keep singing.

-- Translation by Azima Melita Kolin 
and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

~~~~~~~~~~~

birds are free from the cage
cage is empty from the birds
where have you flown from
to be so happy
I can smell eternity 
in your songs

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

quatrain 25

Sunlight offers three interpretations of Quatrain 25: 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

sweetheart i see myself
very close to you
like earth
i welcome your every step
is it fair to call you
my entire world
and yet not
find you around

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

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are bound together.
I am the ground
You are the step.
How unfair is this Love!
I can see Your world
but You, I cannot.

-- Translation by Azima Melita Kolin 
and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friend, our closeness is this:
Anywhere you put your foot, feel me
in the firmness under you.

How is it with this love,
I see your world and not you?

-- Version by Coleman Barks
Open Secret
Threshold Books, 1984

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

see also Houshmand version and recalling a friend

..

quatrain 758

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #758:

any one in love
will have no religion
in the religion of love
there is no heresy or faith
love know no
body heart or soul
there is only
oneness and no more

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

Be certain
in the religion of Love
there are no
believers or unbelievers.
Love embraces all.

translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

quatrain 64

Sunlight offers four versions of quatrain #64, in addition to the Houshmand version discussed at rotting lips.

When I die, lay out the corpse.
You may want to kiss my lips,
just beginning to decay. Don't be frightened
if I open my eyes.

version by Coleman Barks

when i die
hand me over
to my sweetheart
one kiss
on my dead lips
don't be surprised
if I come alive

translation by Nader Khalili

When I die,
lay my copse to rest,
but do not be at all surprised
If His kiss on my tattered lips
brings me back to life.

translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi

If I die, lay me next to the Beloved.

If He looks at me, don't be surprised.
If He kisses me on the lips, don't be surprised.
If I open my eyes and smile, don't be surprised.

version by Jonathan Star

quatrain 75

From sunlight, a version of quatrain #75, to add to the version by Houshmand discussed at a room for fear:

this earthly body of ours
is the light of the heavens
our agile flights
are the envy of angels
one day the celestial bodies
wish to have our pure souls
one day we are a dare devil
who frightens a monster

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

quatrain 216

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #216:

If this me is not I, then
who am I?
If I am not the one who speaks, then
who does?
If this me is only a robe then
who is
the one I am covering?

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

the one you know me
as me it isn't me
who do you think it is
I utter no words with my tongue
who do you think it is
I'm only a shirt
from my head to my toes
the one whose shirt is me
who do you think it is

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

quatrain 257

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #257:

Beyond this world and life we know
there is Someone watching over us.
To know Him is not in our power.
But once in a glimpse I saw
that we are His shadow
and our shadow is
the world.

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

out of this world and our lives
there is someone
who is nursing us
the one whom we
can never comprehend
i only know this much
we are the shadow
of this one
and the world is
the shadow of us

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

I prefer the Khalili version because "comprehend" is more precise than "know" and because the "someone" has no gender.
.

quatrain 116

From sunlight, three versions of quatrain #116:

Take someone who doesn't keep score,
who's not looking to be richer, or afraid of losing,
who has not the slightest interest even
in his own personality: He's free.

Version by Coleman Barks
"Open Secret"
Threshold Books, 1984

happy is the one
who doesn't need to try
getting wealthy
or remaining poor
free from people
and worldly worries
a stranger to himself
free in every way

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

Peaceful
is the one
who's not concerned
with having more or less.
Unbound by name and fame
he is free from sorrow
from the world and
mostly from
himself.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

quatrain 367

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #367. Following is the version by Zara Houshmand which I don't seem to have commented on as I can't find it in a search of the site.

Like a thief
reason sneaked in and sat amongst the lovers
eager to give them advice.
They were unwilling to listen, so reason kissed their feet
and went on its way.

Translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

for awhile wisdom came
to advise the ones
who are in love
it sat by the wayside
to corrupt their way
since it found no room
within their minds
it kissed their feet
and went on its way

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

Reason came forward to lecture the lovers;
Like a bandit in ambush he lay.
But he saw that their heads had no room for reason,
So bowed at their feet and went on his way.

Zara Houshmand
@ iranian.com

quatrain 99

From sunlight, two versions of quatrain #99:

Do you know what the music is saying?
"Come follow me and you will
find the way.
Your mistakes can also lead you
to the Truth.
When you ask,
the answer
will be given."

translation by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 1999

do you hear
the fiddle's surround sound
follow me and
your path will be found
only going astray
you'll find a saintly way
only knowing questions
you'll find a reply.

translation by Nader Khalili
"Dancing the Flame"
Cal-Earth, 2001

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