You glide between the heart and its casing as tears glide from the eyelid. You dwell in my inwardness, in the depths of my heart, as souls dwell in bodies. Nothing passes from rest to motion unless you move it in hidden ways, O new moon. ~ Mansur al-Hallaj (Persia, 9th century)
Tag Archives: poetry
Tilda Swinton recites Rumi’s 12th Century Poem: ‘Like This’
The beautiful and transcendental love poems of Sufi mystic Rumi meets the modern day artist Tilda Swinton in this evocative reading of the poem ‘Like this’. If anyone asks you how the perfect satisfaction of all our sexual wanting will look, lift your face and say, Like this. When someone mentions the gracefulness of theContinue reading “Tilda Swinton recites Rumi’s 12th Century Poem: ‘Like This’”
Love letters sent by the wind
Every day, priests minutely examine the Law And endlessly chant complicated sutras. Before doing that, though, they should learn How to read the love letters sent by the wind and rain, the snow and moon. ~ Ikkyu (1394–1481, Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, saint and poet)
Book Review: The Fahrenheit Twins by Michel Faber
I had the pleasure of meeting Michel Faber at the Auckland Writers Festival this autumn. He’s a reserved, humble and softly-spoken fellow who was gobbled up by the overly bold interviewer, someone far less important, whose name escapes me. Faber brought with him onto the stage a pair of dainty red women’s shoes and onlyContinue reading “Book Review: The Fahrenheit Twins by Michel Faber”
Book Quotes that will give you an insatiable desire to read the whole thing
If you’re not already a complete recluse and homebody like I am, you will be after reading these book quotes, which are succinct, powerful, compelling and just amazing. There is no need for literary context here, each quote possesses a standalone brilliance that makes it irresistible. Light thinks it travels faster than anything but itContinue reading “Book Quotes that will give you an insatiable desire to read the whole thing”
Book of Hours: Eric Gill at Terse
Action is for the sake of contemplation. The active for the sake of the contemplative To labour is to pray. Work is the discipline (the yoga) by means of which The body holds its noise and leaves the soul free a little. Recreation is for the sake of work. Leisure time is for the sakeContinue reading “Book of Hours: Eric Gill at Terse”
Book of Hours: Washington Mathews at Lauds
It was the wind that gave them life. It was the wind that comes out of our mouths now that gives us life. When this ceases to blow, we die. In the skin of our fingers we can see the trail of the wind. It shows us where the wind blew when our ancestors wereContinue reading “Book of Hours: Washington Mathews at Lauds”
Book of Hours: Po Chü-i at Compline
At night, in my dream, I stoutly climbed the mountain. Going out alone with my staff of holly-wood. A thousand crags, a thousand valleys – In my dream journey none were unexplored And all the while my feet never grew tired And my step was as strong as in my younger days. Can it beContinue reading “Book of Hours: Po Chü-i at Compline”
Book of Hours: Deshimaru at Vespers
You must concentrate upon and concentrate yourself wholly to each day. As though fire were raging in your hair. – Deshimaru, Zen Master.
The Ultimate Soothing Tokyo Lullaby: Book and Bed
This is a novel concept that could only be conceived by the Japanese. A bed and book hostel. This captures the very essence of snuggling comfort- falling asleep while reading a good book! The Book and Bed Hostel is a bookshop that’s also a hostel and allows bibliophiles to hire out a nest-like bunk bedContinue reading “The Ultimate Soothing Tokyo Lullaby: Book and Bed”
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