n.

The minute I heard my first love story,

I started looking for you, not knowing

how blind that was.

Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere,

they’re in each other all along.

From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks

When the sweet glance of my true love caught my eyes,

Like alchemy, it transformed my copper-like soul.

I searched for Him with a thousand hands,

He stretched out His arms and clutched my feet.

From Thief of Sleep

by Shahram Shiva

When I am with you, we stay up all night,

When you’re not here, I can’t get to sleep.

Praise God for these two insomnias!

And the difference between them.

From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks

I have phrases and whole pages memorized,

but nothing can be told of love.

You must wait until you and I

are living together.

In the conversation we’ll have

then…be patient…then.

From Essential Rumi

by Coleman Barks