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A review by frasersimons
Rumi: Poems by Rumi
5.0
I like this much more than Essential Rumi because it features a few translators, often translating the same poem, which gives a lot more context and exposes the translators' “goals”, POV, intent, etc.
It’s really interesting consuming it in this format, and really shows how Coleman, author of The Essential Rumi, isn’t really translating anything, but reading a translation and then trying to take that into an internalized lesson to be imparted; often in a puritanical and Christian way. Stripping it of Eastern qualities and imbuing it with Western. You can especially see this with animal motifs.
I’d still like to consume something whole that was translated accurately but it doesn’t really seem like something like that exists in English, so this seems the best. And it is quite profound and interesting, much like The Prophet from Gibran. Though, I think I prefer the Prophet because it is a whole and complete work, with a thematic throughline that is incredible. And the prose is just better, IMO.
It’s really interesting consuming it in this format, and really shows how Coleman, author of The Essential Rumi, isn’t really translating anything, but reading a translation and then trying to take that into an internalized lesson to be imparted; often in a puritanical and Christian way. Stripping it of Eastern qualities and imbuing it with Western. You can especially see this with animal motifs.
I’d still like to consume something whole that was translated accurately but it doesn’t really seem like something like that exists in English, so this seems the best. And it is quite profound and interesting, much like The Prophet from Gibran. Though, I think I prefer the Prophet because it is a whole and complete work, with a thematic throughline that is incredible. And the prose is just better, IMO.