Young custodians of Rumi in Afghanistan (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
Playing in the ruins (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
Every week, my Iranian friends and I translate verses of Persian poetry by Rumi into English. The verses we picked this week reminded me of my time visiting the house in
Afghanistan where many Afghans believe Rumi’s family once lived (though Tajiks and others claim he was from
Wakhsh). The spirited Afghan children I found crawling in and out of these “Rumi” ruins enthusiastically told me all about Rumi’s life–and even quoted some of his poems to me in Persian…
I was ascetic and pious.
You made me a writer of lyrics.
Since then, I have had a wine cup in my hand,
and become full of delight and passion.
I used to always be on my prayer rug, full of virtue.
But your love has made me crazy and distraught.
I have become the play of children in the alley…
— Rumi
