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Muslim / Sufi
18th Century
Turkey
(Middle East)

 

Seyh Galib

Timeline (1757 - 1799)

 

Poems by Seyh Galib
Books

 

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Seyh Galib, also known as Galib Dede, was born in Istanbul. His father was a government official with some connection to the Mevlevi Sufi order, the order of "whirling dervishes" founded by Rumi.

Galib attempted to combine a government career with the interior life of a Sufi, but he eventually turned his focus wholeheartedly to the spiritual life, becoming the sheikh of the Mevlevi order in the Galata district of Istanbul.

By this time he was already famous for his poetry, known even to Sultan Selim III, who was a patron of poets. Galib composed a divan (collection) of his poetry and a poetic allegory called "Beauty and Love." He is considered to be the last of the great classical Ottoman poets.

 

Poems by Seyh Galib

  If I say that the skies have opened
  Love is a lamp of God, I am its moth;
  Were I your treasure, you would squander me,

Recommended Books

Music of a Distant Drum: Classical Arabic, Persian, Turkish & Hebrew Poems, Translated by Bernard Lewis

Amazon.com


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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.