Ruminations
Submitted by daniel.budd on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 6:56pm.
As many in my congregation know, the writings of Jelaluddin Rumi (a 13th century Sufi mystic and poet) hold special inspiration for me. I visit his writings periodically, but this blog will take us there at least once a week. We will ruminate (I just couldn't help myself...) on his writings and no doubt those of others as well, such as Hafiz, Mary Oliver, Kim Addonizio, and other poets. Who knows?
Speaking of poems, here's the first:
Listen to the presences inside poems,
Let them take you where they will.
Follow those private hints,
and never leaves the premises. (Coleman Barks, trans. "The Essential Rumi")
So what of it? Another poet, William Carlos Williams, urges us to listen to the news that is found in "despised poems." The idea is to sit with the poem, mull it around in your mind, speak it out loud, visit it every day or at least every now and then and ponder it, listen to it, let it take you where it will. Windows may open, doors swing ajar, something new may be discovered. Such poetic curiosity is indeed a good place to live, premises in which to dwell. Try it. It's a different way of looking at the world, and your place with it.
- Daniel Budd
Speaking of poems, here's the first:
Listen to the presences inside poems,
Let them take you where they will.
Follow those private hints,
and never leaves the premises. (Coleman Barks, trans. "The Essential Rumi")
So what of it? Another poet, William Carlos Williams, urges us to listen to the news that is found in "despised poems." The idea is to sit with the poem, mull it around in your mind, speak it out loud, visit it every day or at least every now and then and ponder it, listen to it, let it take you where it will. Windows may open, doors swing ajar, something new may be discovered. Such poetic curiosity is indeed a good place to live, premises in which to dwell. Try it. It's a different way of looking at the world, and your place with it.
- Daniel Budd