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MAR • JUN 14, 2022 4:49 PM EDT
One of the most famous religious scholars of all time, Jalal ad Din Rumi was a Persian poet born in Balkh, today's
Afghanistan. In addition to his devotional manuscripts and poetry, he was also a great poet and a scholar of Sufism.
Among his famous works are poetry, manuscripts, and other writings. The bulk of his writings are in Persian.
In addition to being considered one of the most popular spiritual authors of Persian literature, his work is also
famous worldwide amongst lovers of literature and spirituality. This article analyzes one of his beautiful poems.
Numerous famous poems and other literary works have been written by him. "When I Die" is one of his most famous
pieces of poetry which I will analyze and summarize in the following article.
Rumi's famous pome "When I Die" has an interesting structure and theme, outlined below.
Structure:
This poem consists of nine stanzas, where six stanzas are composed of five lines called quatrains, and three
stanzas are composed of six lines called sestets, of irregular lengths.
There is no rhyme scheme in the stanzas or the lines of the poem, although there is a certain amount of rhythm in
its reading.
Therefore, the format or form of the poem might be considered free verse.
Theme:
The poet is happy upon his death and believes to meet the eternal love and long-lasting life which is the afterlife,
where he goes after leaving this temporary world.
Stanza 1
When I die
when my coffin
Summary:
As early as the first stanza, the poet explains the meaning and concept of the poem. This poem is based on "eternal
life after death," an idea that poets believe is based on the fact that death is destined for every physical form. We
can never escape it since it leads us to eternal life and infinite existence.
Nevertheless, the poet acknowledges that he will never miss this time-based world when he dies. Upon his
departure from this world, there is no need for any kind of grief or sorrow. This world, these pleasures, and worldly
amusements are no more than just an illusion occupying our minds, but in reality, we all are temporary entities,
which soon is going to meet their eternal life.
Stanza 2
don't lament or
feel sorry
Poet is happy to leave the temporary world and asks his loved ones to not cry over his departure since he won't
enter the devil's domain but his grave is a road to eternal living, a road to a great Lord.
Upon separation from this world and worldly relationships, he asks them to not grieve, cry or feel any sort of sorrow.
Stanza 3
is being carried
Summary
The poet is saying that he is not dying but rather is arriving at the place of eternity where no one will die and that
place is not temporary but rather a permanent living and permanent and long-lasting love for the entire universe.
Therefore, he did not feel any regret for death since he has finally found eternal life. A person's final destination is
the afterlife, which is eternal and awaits all living bodies.
Stanza 4
in the grave
remember a grave is
only a curtain
Continuing, the poet explains that the grave is just the door to paradise, a reward for your good deeds. A person of
virtue and kindness will indeed enter paradise as their final destination.
Those attending my farewell, please understand that my grave is actually just a thin wall that stands between a
pious man and the eternal living.
Stanza 5
Summary
The coffin carrying my body can be seen going into my grave, but it is not actually the end, but the beginning of my
new life. The sun sets every night, signaling the end of the day, and the moon signifies the end of the night, but do
they actually end?
But the setting down of the sun and moon is actually a preparation for the next day and new life. The same goes for
all living entities, there is an awaiting eternal afterlife for all of us. we are gonna reborn again to live that long-lasting
life of love and eternity.
Stanza 6
In fact, the setting of the sun and moon is an indication that they should perform their functions to bring in the new
day and the new night. A similar scenario occurs when death separates the soul from the body since our true
existence resides in our soul, which is eternal.
Our soul spent a temporary period of time in the world and is now free from all forms. In other words, when we enter
the grave, we let our soul out of our body, which is now immoral.
Stanza 7
Summary
The poet metaphorically compares man to a seed in this stanza, focusing on the phenomenon of a seed
germination process reproducing itself as a new plant.
Human beings, he tells us, are like seeds and will be reborn into a new and perpetual life after they are buried.
Stanza 8
We should believe in the possibility of life after death for humans. Our afterlife is certain and eternal. Our poet
reminded us of the story of Prophet Joseph, who was being thrown into a well, but the Lord's mercy brought him
back to life, and he lived a prosperous and exemplary life.
Why should you grieve over my burial? Through the mercy of God, I will be able to reach a place of greater esteem
and prosperity for all time.
Stanza 9
no place no time
Summary
We will all be devoid of meaning after we die and our words and thoughts are useless. We will forever leave this
temporary world and will live in eternity. Where there will be no deadlines for life and no place to be physically
present. We are souls, and souls are free from all physical forms.
Conclusion
The poem is spiritual awakening of our souls reminding us about death, which is our fate and actually a path
towards an eternal life.
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