Yunus Emre, Yunus Emre poetry, Muslim / Sufi, Muslim / Sufi poetry,  poetry,  poetry,  poetry Yunus Emre
Turkey (1238 - 1320) Timeline
Muslim / Sufi


Poems by Yunus Emre
Books - Links

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 settled in the same region after having moved from what is today Afghanistan. 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


Recommended Books: Yunus Emre

The Longing in Between: Sacred Poetry from Around the World (A Poetry Chaikhana Anthology) Poetry for the Spirit: Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty Music of a Distant Drum: Classical Arabic, Persian, Turkish & Hebrew Poems The Drop That Became the Sea: Lyric Poems of Yunus Emre Quarreling with God: Mystic Rebel Poems of the Dervishes of Turkey
The Poetry of Yunus Emre: A Turkish Sufi Poet



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.

Yunus Emre - Selected Poems
http://www.turkishculture.org/philosophers/yunus-emre/selected-poems-ii-431.htm?type=1

Quite a few poems by Yunus Emre in both English and Turkish - by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
Yunus Emre