My friend, Heidi, posted this poem, “Only Breath” by Jalaluddin Rumi for Poetry Wednesday many months ago. I was very moved and inspired by it, and I would like to repost it and dedicate it to the Poetry Wednesday group.    

Jalal-ud-din Rumi is the most popular poet in North America. Nearly every poetically minded person who is anyone quotes him. However, he is not an American. Furthermore, he did not know anything about America when he was alive. He was born Mawlana Jalal-ud-din Mohammed on 30 September, 1207, 285 years before Columbus discovered America.

He was born in Balkh, the thriving and beautiful ancient capital of Bactria, now Afghanistan. Balkh lies about 14 miles due west of the city of the Muslim world whose name means “tomb of the saint,” Mazar-e-Sharif. The particular saint was ‘Ali, son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.

Only Breath
by Jalaluddin Rumi

Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu
Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion

or cultural system. I am not from the East
or the West, not out of the ocean or up

from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not
composed of elements at all. I do not exist,

am not an entity in this world or in the next,
did not descend from Adam and Eve or any

origin story. My place is the placeless, a trace
of the traceless. Neither body or soul.

I belong to the beloved, have seen the two
worlds as one and that one call to and know,

first, last, outer, inner, only that
breath breathing human being.

Only Breath by Jalaluddin Rumi

Thanks, Heidi

delete reply strongwilledwoman wrote on Mar 1, ’08 Thank you dear friend, for the poem and good wishes. I first read the poem and then let the video take me away to a peaceful place. It made me think that for each breath I inhale and exhale perhaps it has circled the earth at least once after all my years. How many others, plants, animal and beautiful human beings have drawn upon my breath and I of their’s. We are all interconnected. You have given me a serene place, thank you.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Mar 1, ’08 I’m so glad I was able to help you. Actually, I had not heard of this poet until Heidi posted it one day. I knew you already read my other inspirational blogs and I wanted to post something different. I have not put out anything like this in a long time. I will try to look for more. This poem teaches you that not only are we interconnected, but that our bodies are not all we are. Bev, you need to look deeper and realize we are spirits that have a body, not bodies that have a spirit. I know I tend to forget that myself, and as we age, we need to affirm that. Wisdom grows with age, and it is a gift.

delete reply papahere wrote on Mar 1, ’08 Laurita…This poem makes me aware of how petty and foolish is our perception of life…who we think we are is only a sureficial fabrication making us yearn for our true awareness and home. ~ Papa

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Mar 1, ’08 When I first saw the video, I was very moved by how it was presented.

delete reply starfishred wrote on Mar 2, ’08 He is so inspirational I just love his poetry and his thinking and when you think of how long ago these were done it is awsome.This one is my favorite.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Mar 2, ’08 Heidi, thank you for introducing me to his work. Are there other poems by him that you could recommend to me ?

delete reply starfishred wrote on Mar 2, ’08 lauritasita said Heidi, thank you for introducing me to his work. Are there other poems by him that you could recommend to me ? If you look on you tube they have a lot by him

delete reply laura1may wrote on Mar 2, ’08 He is really not that well known here, except among those of a more New Age persuasion. I have been amazed by howpopular he is among American bloggers.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Mar 2, ’08 I was not familiar with him at all until Heidi posted this poem for Poetry Wednesday.

deletereply starfishred wrote on Jul 27, ’08 You have a wonderful wonderful vacation my friend he is so wonderful isn’t he

deletereply slohomeles wrote on Jul 28, ’08 Beautiful poem… spiritual, but not religious.

deletereply mindsnomad wrote on Jul 29, ’08 Guess I understand why I like his poems.

deletereply billatplay wrote on Aug 5, ’08 I too follow this line of thinking. I have no Religion to believe in but I do believe in a power beyond our understanding, God, http://billatplay.multiply.com/journal/item/2/Wednesday_Poem

deletereply starfishred wrote on Aug 5, ’08 grazia my little friend where ever you are today and hope you are having fun.

deletereply jadedruid wrote on Aug 5, ’08 This is a wonderful poem. If only the world would hold the words to this poem to heart, so much bloodshed and war could be avoided.

deletereply brian51 wrote on Aug 5, ’08 Wonderful, and thank you for the fascinating background.

deletereply jayaramanms wrote on Aug 6, ’08 Hi Laurita, Hope you are enjoying the vocation. Thank you for presenting beautiful poems of Rumi,. who is my favorite poet too. Good selection. Mine at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/249/POETRY_WEDNESDAY

deletereply sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Aug 6, ’08 Laurita: Once again our thoughts are on similar themes! I posted Rumi this week also. Always a wonderul and inspiring read for me. Hope you are having a wonderful & relaxing vacation!

deletereply forgetmenot525 wrote on Aug 6, ’08 this is beautiful, thank you

deletereply suggar202 wrote on Aug 7, ’08 speechless .. i really love Rumi!

deletereply sylvie1 wrote on Aug 7, ’08 He was a dreamer … ahead of his times. This is a wonderful  write. Thank you for the post.

deletereply lunarechoes wrote on Aug 8, ’08 That poem is just breath-taking. Thank you for sharing!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 9, ’08, edited on Aug 9, ’08 Thank you for all your wonderful comments, everyone ! When I first heard the video that went with this poem, I was so moved by it, I had to post it again. I think this is the third time I have posted this !

deletereply skeezicks1957 wrote on Aug 10, ’08 The poem is wonderful and the vid is outstanding.  I am stealing it for my vid page.  Thanks for this post!

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 10, ’08 Hi skeezicks, go ahead and take it. It’s so wonderful, isn’t it ?

deletereply philsgal7759 wrote on Aug 10, ’08 I think he appeals to the spiritual in all of us

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Aug 10, ’08 Hi Narice, yes, I agree with you about how he appeals to the spirituality in all of us.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Dec 13, ’08 I just wanted to share this poem again as the holidays approach.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Dec 27, ’08 I just love this poem !