Discover the figure of the Beloved in the poems of Jalal al-Din Rumi
During this evening’s event—the 6th in the current cycle of Words (can) do it—poets Christos Siorikis and Christos Sakellaridis explore the desire, idea and material that shape the figure of the Beloved, as it emerges from poems and other texts of the Persian poet and mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi (1207 - 1273).
We have often told our Beloved we love them, but for some, these words, like prayer, is a daily need. Language seeks to finds its way to the Beloved, whether a real person, a divine form, or an unrequited love, as the Beloved’s silence can mean everything. The poet’s anxiety remains the same, whether he speaks or remains silent. What, then, is the purpose of the word? Why do I need to hear the Beloved’s words? Since I know he loves me, why do I long for him to respond? In this evening’s event, we address ourselves to the Beloved and invoke his presence; one way of doing so is to call him by his name.