Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi 13th Century	About Jelaluddin Rumi Timeline (1207 - 1273)
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English version by Coleman Barks Original Language Persian/Farsi	[1146] Today I'm out wandering, turning my skull
Commentary by Ivan M. Granger Themes   Wine           Recommended Books Delicious Laughter: Rambunctious Teaching Stories from the Mathnawi of Jelaluddin Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks East Window: Poems from Asia, Translated by W. S. Merwin The Essential Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated by Coleman Barks Holy Fire: Nine Visionary Poets and the Quest for Enlightenment, Edited by Daniel Halpern More >>	Today I'm out wandering, turning my skull into a cup for others to drink wine from. In this town somewhere there sits a calm, intelligent man, who doesn't know what he's about to do!     -- from Open Secret: Versions of Rumi, Translated by Coleman Barks / Translated by John Moyne Amazon.com
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This is an interesting poem by Rumi. The image of turning his skull "into a cup for others to drink from," what do you think he means by this?

In sacred traditions, the skull is often described as a bowl or a cup that receives the "liquid" of bliss -- the heavenly substance of "wine" or amrita.

It is in the skull that this "wine" is first recognized, where it is first received. The skull seemingly lights up, from its base at the back of the neck around to the point between the eyebrows, and the entire "cup" of the skull seems to fill up with a substance of immense life and joy.

Rumi is receiving so generously of this divine drink that he is pouring it out for all to imbibe.

And why does the "calm, intelligent man" not know "what he's about to do"? Because he's about to consume the wine and, in turn, the wine will consume him -- completely. He is about to be drunk with the taste of the Beloved on his lips. Who knows what blissful madness of love will follow?

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