Love After Love

Love After Love. 

The time will come 

When with elation

You will greet yourself arriving 

At your own door, in your own mirror,

And each will smile at the other's welcome,

And say, sit here, Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.

Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,

The photographs, the desperate notes,

Peel your image from the mirror.

Sit. Feast on your life. 

 by Derek Walcott

Sunset by PineForest

This poem by Derek Walcott opened up a deep realisation that I had since childhood. The search for self  has masqueraded as the search for god, the meaning of life, the holy grail, and the questions of; 

Where I come from, 

What I am doing here and 

Where am I going after life?

When the first and most pertinent question has always been; Who Am I?

The answer to the first question is like the key that will unlock all other questions.

Perhaps the essay that this inspired me to write in my next post might shed light onto my thoughts and feelings on  'The Idea of Love.' 

I love you. Rumi

 Muhammad Jalaluddin Mawlana Rumi  (1207-1273)

Here is another superstar during his time. 

More writer, composer of songs, stories, than just a  poet, Rumi was celebrated as the equivalent of a blues icon. Like Miles Davis. 

Today he is the most celebrated poet of all time ranked the best selling poet in the US.

Rumi was born in Balkh, present day Afghanistan back then it was part of the great Persian empire. He wrote mostly in Persian but his work has influenced many other cultures in the Middle East. Born into a family of Islamic clerics, his father was a religious leader of traditional Islam faith. He lived as a sober scholar, nobleman, theologian and seeker of truth. 

However after a chance meeting with Shams of Tabriz, he became an impassioned seeker of universal truth and love, rising in popularity to become known as the greatest mystic poet. His work is deeply philosophical, from soulful expressions, to passionate love verses filled with desire and yearning. He also wrote anecdotes about life, moral stories, and stories from all three Abrahamic religions. 

He was a rebel, calling for breaking tradition and a soul yearning for freedom from dogma and hypocrisy. He also writes about going against the poison of fear based religions, extolling the remedy in love-based doctrine - a life journey free of guilt, fear and shame. Yet his work is not exclusive, he includes everyone. Therefore to classify or label him a Sufi is an understatement for he is more universal in his approach and is not bound by any cultural limitations. I would say he is a fully evolved human being that touches every one of us. 

Today Rumi's poems and writings are read in almost all houses of worship of all denominations.

Quotes

"Everything in the Universe is within You.

 

Ask All from Yourself"  ~ Rumi

~~ 

    "You Are Not A Drop in the Ocean,

 

You are The Entire Ocean in A Drop"  ~ Rumi

~~

"Run from What's Comfortable. Forget Safety.

 

Live Where You Fear To Live.

 

Destroy Your Reputation. Be Notorious.

 

I have tried Prudent Planning long enough.

 

From Now On I'll Be Mad." ~ Rumi

    ~~

 

Don't Grieve. Anything you Lose Comes Around in Another Form." ~ Rumi 

~~ 

"Do Not Feel Lonely, The Entire Universe is Inside You. ~ Rumi

~~

"Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.

 

they're in each other all along."  ~ Rumi

~~ 

Poetry 

I want to see you.

Know your voice. 

Recognise you when you first come round the corner.

Sense your scent when I come into a room you've just left.

Know the lift of your heel,

the glide of your foot.

Become familiar with the way you purse your lips,

then let them part, just the slightest bit,

when I lean in to your space

and kiss you.

I want to know the joy 

of how you whisper

"more"

~ Rumi

 

~~

A Life without love is a waste.

"Should I look for Spiritual love, or material or physical love?" ,

Don't ask yourself this question.

Discrimination leads to discrimination.

Love doesn't need any category or definition.

Love is a World itself.

Either you are in at the center...

Either you are out, yearning.

~ Rumi

~~

And goodbye for now....