The painting "The Young Poet Rumi" by Skip Noah shows a young Rumi (sans white beard) composing a poem. The painting is a visual narrative of catharsis. Peacock feather in hand, the flow of ink has veered off the paper and knocked over an ink well as the weight of emotion from what he has just written causes him to collapse in creative exhaustion, his heart pumping blood onto the green table. Two young birds fly in through his open window bringing flowers. These feathered muses also bring him inspiration metaphorically through these gifts of flowers.
Poem by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207- 1273 AD):
Who Says Words With My Mouth?
All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
and what am I supposed to be doing?
This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
sitting in this aviary.
What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
and I can't leave that way.
This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
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