The Song of the Reed (Rumi)

Rumi Poem: The Song of the Reed

Opening Song of the Masnavi

[This poem is about a seekers search for his beloved, divinity]

English Translation

Listen to the reed flute tale, as it laments its pain of separation.

It says, ‘Ever since they have uprooted me from my reed-bed I have been crying

And caused both woman and man to be moved, who have since wept along my lament

I wish to repose my head on the breast of a longing heart, that too has been ripped away from their beloved, a heart torn to pieces, so that I may unburden my pain of this love.

For one who has been afflicted knows my song,  only they would understand my sadness,

Anyone who has been cut from the source, wishes to reunite,

they long dearly to return to that blissfulness.

In many gatherings, I have uttered my wailful notes, the same lament.

I consort with the unhappy and those that rejoice.

Each sought me, befriended me but for their own reasons and opinions

Each according to his fancy became friendly to me.

Yet none sought out the secrets I held within. 

Nor could they decipher the secrets behind the notes

My Body is not veiled from the Soul, nor soul from body, yet none can see the soul

For truly, the divine secrets are not separate from my cries

The eyes and ears lack the illumination of cognition

These secrets unlock to the heart, not for eyes or ears

The one who hears this is senseless. A tongue has but one customer, the ear.

The song of the reed consoles those such parted from their beloved,

The reed is a comfort to all estranged lovers. The notes tears away our veils

The song shares the tortuous bloody path

And recounts how Majnum, when separated from his beloved and Laila how his heart bled

To one who is joined to my lips and is in harmony with myself

I too like the reed would tell all that may be told

When the rose is gone (his beloved) and the garden faded (in Autumn)

You will no longer hear the nightingale’s song

But only those who are cooked in the fire of love will hear them

The sound from the reed is fire, not wind. Be that empty.

The love fire is one that inspires the flute. It is the ferment of love that completes the wine.

If you don’t have this fire,

you might as well be dead

Oh, how can the uncooked

know the majesty of the fire of love?

This reed is the friend of everyone who has been parted /separated

Who has ever seen a poison so bitter and antidote so sweet such as this. It is hurt and salve combining. Have you seen a more intimate companion and lover? That is the song of the reed.

Intimacy and longing for intimacy, one song.

All are satiated except a fish in water, and one who does not have his daily bread fails to pass his days easily.

If you meet the uncooked, the immature man

don’t sing, don’t preach

the raw will not understand the state of the ripe

Instead listen to my advice:

Say goodbye and leave

-Rumi

(the original verse was written by J. Rumi a Sufi from Iran) Translated mostly from Urdu to English. reviewed multiple versions in English as well. 

Persian

دفتر اول مثنوی

بشنو از نى چون حكايت مى‏كند
از جدايى‏ها شكايت مى‏كند
كز نيستان تا مرا ببريده‏اند
در نفيرم مرد و زن ناليده‏اند
سينه خواهم شرحه شرحه از فراق
تا بگويم شرح درد اشتياق‏
هر كسى كاو دور ماند از اصل خويش
باز جويد روزگار وصل خويش‏
من به هر جمعيتى ناالن شدم
جفت بد حاالن و خوش حاالن شدم‏
هر كسى از ظن خود شد يار من
از درون من نجست اسرار من‏
سر من از ناله‏ى من دور نيست
ليك چشم و گوش را آن نور نيست‏
تن ز جان و جان ز تن مستور نيست
ليك كس را ديد جان دستور نيست‏
آتش است اين بانگ ناى و نيست باد
هر كه اين آتش ندارد نيست باد
آتش عشق است كاندر نى فتاد
جوشش عشق است كاندر مى‏فتاد
نى حريف هر كه از يارى بريد
پرده‏هايش پرده‏هاى ما دريد
همچو نى زهرى و ترياقى كه ديد
همچو نى دمساز و مشتاقى كه ديد
نى حديث راه پر خون مى‏كند
قصه‏هاى عشق مجنون مى‏كند
محرم اين هوش جز بى‏هوش نيست
مر زبان را مشترى جز گوش نيست‏
در غم ما روزها بى‏گاه شد
روزها با سوزها همراه شد
روزها گر رفت گو رو باك نيست
تو بمان اى آن كه چون تو پاك نيست‏
هر كه جز ماهى ز آبش سير شد
هر كه بى‏روزى است روزش دير شد

Farsi



be-sh'naw în nay chûn shikâyat mê-kon-ad
az jodâ'îy-hâ hikâyat mê-kon-ad

k-az nayestân tâ ma-râ be-b'rîda-and
dar nafîr-am mard-o zan nâlîda-and

sîna khwâh-am sharHa sharHa az firâq
tâ be-gôy-am sharH-é dard-é ishtiyâq


har kasê k-ô dûr mând az aSl-é khwêsh
bâz jôy-ad rôzgâr-é waSl-é khwêsh


har kasê az Zann-é khwad shod yâr-é man
az darûn-é man na-joft asrâr-é man

sirr-é man az nâla-yé man dûr nêst
lêk chashm-o gôsh-râ ân nûr nêst

tan ze-jân-o jân ze-tan mastûr nêst
lêk kas-râ dîd-é jân dastûr nêst

âtesh-ast în bâng-é nây-o nêst bâd
har-ke în âtesh na-dâr-ad nêst bâd

âtesh-é `ishq-ast k-andar nây fotâd
jôshesh-é `ishq-ast k-andar may fotâd

nay Harîf-é har-ke az yârê bor-îd
parda-hâ-ash parda-hâ-yé mâ darîd

ham-chô nay zahrê wo tiryâqê ke dîd?
ham-cho nay dam-sâz-o mushtâqê ke dîd?

nay HadîS-é râh-é por khûn mê-kon-ad
qiSSa-hâ-yé `ishq-é majnûn mê-kon-ad

maHram-é în hôsh joz bê-hôsh nêst
mar zabân-râ mushtarê joz gôsh nêst

dar gham-é mâ rôz-hâ bê-gâh shod
rôz-hâ bâ sôz-hâ ham-râh shod

rôz-hâ gar raft gô raw bâk nêst
tô be-mân ay ân-ke chûn tô pâk nêst

har-ke joz mâhê ze-âbash sêr shod
har-ke bê-rôzî-st rôz-ash dêr shod

dar na-yâb-ad Hâl-é pokhta hêch khâm
pas sokhon kôtâh bây-ad wa 's-salâm

(mathnawi meter)