Midnight stroll through Harlem (Photo by Eddie Chu)
When a whirling dervish performs
sema–the whirling ceremony of the path of Rumi–she wears a hat in the shape of a tombstone (above)–to represent the death of the ego, which is the goal of the Sufi path. While reading Rumi today, I came across a poem of his that includes the image of the tombstone hat…
A fire has risen above my tombstone hat.
I don’t want learning, or dignity,
or respectability.
I want this music and this dawn,
and the warmth of your cheek against mine.
The grief-armies assemble,
but I’m not going with them…
— Rumi
