These quatrains are from the book Rumi: Whispers of the Beloved… by Maryam Mafi

“If you have illusions about heaven, lose them.

The soul heard of one attribute of Love, and came to earth.

A hundred attributes of heaven, could never charm her back.

It is here the soul discovers, the reality of Love.”

“Imitating other, I failed to find myself.

I looked insider and discovered, I only knew my name.

When I stepped outside, I found my real Self.”

“You know what love is? It is all kindness, generosity.

Disharmony prevails when, you confuse lust with love, while

the distance between the two is endless.”

“I said to the night, “If you are in love with the moon,

it is because you never stay for long.”

The night turned to me and said, “It is not my fault.

I never see the Sun, how can I know that love is endless?”

“It’s good to leave each day behind,

like flowing water, free of sadness.

Yesterday is gone and its tale told.

Today new seeds are growing.”

“Last night, I begged the Wise One

to tell me the secret of the world.

Gently, gently he whispered,

“Be quiet, the secret cannot be spoken,

it is wrapped in silence.”"

“Be motivated like the falcon, hunt gloriously.

Be magnificent as the leopard, fight to win.

Spend less time with nightingales and peacocks.

One is all talk, the other only color.”

“There are no signposts in the desert,

caravans are guided by the stars.

In the darkness of despair, hope is the only light.

But in the garden of your life, my dear, never hope that

a weeping willow will give you dates.”

I love poetry and one of my favorite poets who has stuck with me is Rumi…I am a great Rumi fan…He inspires me to live a life full of compassion and love…His thoughts speak to me in a language that touches my soul…First time, when I came across Rumi, I immediately felt a connection. Rumi inspires me to look at the world with new eyes…to embrace its flaws and perfection…I could feel his frenziness…his energy through his quatrains…if the world is an oyster, then Rumi’s verses allow me to see that pearl enclosed deep within…the wisdom of Rumi’s words…enable me to cry and melt and yet feel strong within…i am so glad i found him…when i could…he brought alive the poet within me…and i am hoping that his words and wisdom will always provide me with a strength to withstand the tests of time…