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Yunus Emre Turkey (1238 - 1320) Timeline Muslim / Sufi Poems by Yunus Emre Books - Links
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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.
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:
- Let's Take Yunus Emre
- One Who Is Real Is Humble
- The drink sent down from Truth,
- The lover is outcast and idle
- The mature ones are a sea
- Those who became complete
- True speech is the fruit of not speaking
- We encountered the house of realization
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.
