so she spies
friend with friend
sitting perfectly
when a wall opens
on the men
saints bring flowers
from paradise
for her to keep
as long as life

A. H . K. H-H (8th June 2020)

In the last year I’ve been reading several translations of some of Rumi’s poems. This last weekend I read one interpreter, Coleman Barks, tell this story of Rumi’s wife Kira Khatun observing Rumi and his friend Shams of Tabriz in conversation. It’s a lovely story worth learning the detail of, it delighted me, partly as I remember hearing it as a child and had quite forgotten – something the world and I had written over that I’m glad to learn again, and remember.

toni