Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi

13th Century

Turkey
(Middle East)

Yunus Emre

Timeline (1238 - 1320)

Poems by Yunus Emre
Books - Links

Yunus Emre, Yunus Emre poetry, Muslim / Sufi, Muslim / Sufi poetry, poetry, poetry, poetry

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Yunus Emre is considered by many to be one of the most important Turkish poets. Little can be said for certain of his life other than that he was a Sufi dervish of Anatolia. The love people have for his liberating poetry is reflected in the fact that many villages claim to be his birthplace, and many others claim to hold his tomb. He probably lived in the Karaman area.

His poetry expresses a deep personal mysticism and humanism and love for God.

He was a contemporary of Rumi, who lived in the same region. Rumi composed his collection of stories and songs for a well-educated urban circle of Sufis, writing primarily in the literary language of Persian. Yunus Emre, on the other hand, traveled and taught among the rural poor, singing his songs in the Turkish language of the common people.

A story is told of a meeting between the two great souls: Rumi asked Yunus Emre what he thought of his great work the Mathnawi. Yunus Emre said, "Excellent, excellent! But I would have done it differently." Surprised, Rumi asked how. Yunus replied, "I would have written, 'I came from the eternal, clothed myself in flesh, and took the name Yunus.'" That story perfectly illustrates Yunus Emre's simple, direct approach that has made him so beloved.

Interestingly, the name Yunus means "dolphin" in Turkish.

Poems by Yunus Emre

	A single word can brighten the face
	Ask those who know,
	I am before, I am after
	Knowledge should mean a full grasp of knowledge:
	One Who Is Real Is Humble
	The drink sent down from Truth,
	The lover is outcast and idle
	The mature ones are a sea.
	True speech is the fruit of not speaking.
	We encountered the house of realization,

Recommended Books

	The Drop That Became the Sea: Lyric Poems of Yunus Emre, Translated by Kabir Helminski / Translated by Refik Algan Amazon.com
	Music of a Distant Drum: Classical Arabic, Persian, Turkish & Hebrew Poems, Translated by Bernard Lewis Amazon.com
	Poetry for the Spirit: Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty, Edited by Alan Jacobs Amazon.com
	The Poetry of Yunus Emre: A Turkish Sufi Poet, Translated by Grace Martin Smith Amazon.com
	Quarreling with God: Mystic Rebel Poems of the Dervishes of Turkey, Translated by Jennifer Ferraro / Translated by Latif Bolat Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Lyrics of Yunus Emre - The Drop That Became the Sea http://sircasaray.turkiye.org/yunus/lyrics.html Several selected poems from Helminski's translations.
	Yunus Emre, Selected Poems http://www.mfa.gov.tr/grupe/eg/eg23/default.htm Several poems of Yunus Emre presented by the Turkish Republic's Minister of Culture. The preface gives a brief introduction to the significance of the poetry of Yunus Emre in Turkish culture.
	Yunus Emre - Introduction http://www.stwing.org/~durduran/yunus/yazi1.html A good site with a brief biography, several legends associated with Yunus Emre, and many poetry selections.
	Yunus Emre Selected Poetry on Allspirit http://www.allspirit.co.uk/emre.html More Helminski translations of Yunus Emre's poetry online.
	Cappadocia: Yunus Emre http://www.turizm.net/cities/cappadocia/yunusemere.htm A brief biography with some poetry excerpts.
	Alevism.net - Literature http://www.alevism.net/literature.html Brief biographies of several great Turkish poets and saints, including a section on Yunus Emre with several poem selections.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yunus Emre

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World