Jalal al-Din Rumi was a Persian poet who lived in the 13th century and created a tremendous amount of literary works. His poems focus on themes of the self and the search of self improvement along with the concepts of love. The prose itself does not focus on traditional rhyme methods, choosing instead to focus on the flow of words as they are spoken to create emphasis and rhythm.
The works of Rumi have held relevancy for nearly 800 years, and in the modern era, with information more accessible as it has ever been and with the ability to share anything with the click of a button, Rumi’s works reach hearts and minds across countries. Some of those people gathered May 7 at Golden Braid Books.
A calm, relaxing atmosphere is the first thing to take note of when entering Golden Braid Books. Designed with smooth, earthy tones and windows that look out into a patio, it’s hard not to feel at ease. Adding to this is Oasis Cafe right across the patio, letting the aroma of food slip past every so often. Art from local artists hangs on the walls, with some even available to be purchased. It’s also just right down the road from campus as well, and with its calm atmosphere, it would make a great place to study, or even just relax. All of these elements, plus being a pleasant sensation of being surrounded by books and art, is where the Rumi Poetry Club held their most recent meeting.
Sitting in a circle, the attendees of the club are people who come from various walks of life, all bound together by the writings and their passion for Rumi. Like any book club, they discuss the meanings and implications of the poems while sharing a few of their favorites. The most notable discussed in the meeting were “A Thirsty Fish” and “Eye of the Heart.” The main person driving the meeting, adding to conversions and bringing up poems of note was Rasoul Shams, the founder of the club.
Shams has been a lifelong fan of Rumi and his works. He has written a plethora of essays and articles on the poet which have been compiled in his book, “Rumi Essays.” Not only that, but he has translated many of Rumi’s works, which can be found in his books, “Rumi: The Art of Loving,” “The Words of Rumi” and “Through Love Pain Is Healed.” His insight on the works and themes of Rumi comes through in the meeting, as he expertly pointed out details and concepts in the prose that elevated the event as a whole.
As of the time of writing this, there is nothing confirmed about the next meeting of the Rumi Poetry Club. There will be one in the fall, with a chance of there being one more meeting in the summer. If you wish to attend the next meeting, make sure to reach out to the Rumi Poetry Club via [email protected] in order to stay up to date on any news or check their Facebook for updates. The books written by Shams can be found anywhere books are sold, and can even be ordered through your local bookstore.
