Welcome to 31 Days of Poetry & Writing Prompts–Day 25.

 

Who Says Words with My Mouth

by Jalal Al-Din Rumi

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.

Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?

I have no idea.

My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,

and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.

When I get back around to that place,

I’ll be completely sober. Meanwhile,

I’m like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.

The day is coming when I fly off,

but who is it now in my ear, who hears my voice?

Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?

I cannot stop asking,

If I could taste one sip of an answer,

I could break out of this prison for drunks.

I didn’t come here of my own accord, and I can’t leave that way.

Whoever brought me here will have to take me back.

This poetry, I never know what I’m going to say.

I don’t plan it.

When I’m outside the saying of it,

I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

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We came from dust, and to dust we will each return.

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. Genesis 3:19

For much of my life, this place has occupied too much space in my heart. Sometimes it felt like everything, as it’s all I see. I’ve been trained to dream big here, to make years worth of plans here, and then to store up more for my offspring.

Yet the whisper of my soul reminds me this isn’t it. We’re not yet home.

“My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that, and I intend to end up there.”

It’s not a real popular thought though. Nobody really wants to consider that one day they’ll be dying to this place.

But since I’m a bird from another continent, and one day, I will fly away, then I need to keep in mind what it is that I’m supposed to be doing here. I want to know from the One who poured the breath of life into me, and here is what He says:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

“Come, follow Me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” 4:19

“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” 5:44

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” 6:20

And that’s the rub, as we all know. If we’re storing up treasures on earth, this is where our hearts focus. The here and now takes up too much space in our hearts. And by treasure, we’re talking about so much more than our money.

So I thank God for clarity, after this reminder, that my soul is from elsewhere.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Writing Prompt:

Write about some truth which suddenly became crystal clear to you.

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