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.
Where did I come from,

and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.
 

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober.  Meanwhile,
 I'm like a bird from another continent,

sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?
Who looks out with my eyes?

What is the soul?
 

I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord,

and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.
 

This poetry, I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.