Split the Sack

Why does the soul not fly
when it hears the call?

Why does a fish, gasping on land,
but near the water,
not move back into the sea?...

What keeps us from joining the dance
the dust particles do?

Look at their subtle motions
in sunlight.

We are out of our cages
with our wings spread
yet we do not lift off.

We keep collecting rocks and broken bits
of pottery like children
pretending they are merchants.

We should split the sack
of this culture
and stick our heads out.

Look around.
Leave your childhood.

Reach your right hand up
and take this book from the air.
You know right from left don't you?

A voice speaks to your clarity.
Move into the moment of your death.
Consider what you truely want.

Now call out commands yourself.
You are the king. Phrase your question,
and expect the grace of an answer.

Rumi

I have been reading and re-reading this poem. The idea of splitting the sack of our culture and sticking my head out is a visual that I find very appealing. It is also something that I am trying to do regularly; attempting to step away from the image-obsessed, consumerist culture of my town in Ohio, and of America in general, is difficult but I am trying daily. As much as I would like the thought of going to live on a farm in the middle of no where and not using a cell phone, its not a very practical idea. Maybe when I'm a lot, lot older.

The other part of this poem that really gets me is the last two stanzas. When I first read it, and I came across the part asking me to consider what I really want, I was struck by the fact that what I really want deep down is a lot different than what I think I want on a daily basis. When I thought about it in that instant, I realized what I want out of life is great happiness and love, peace and ease. Not the usual, "I want to be a great artist and design for Hermes" that has been running through my mind lately.

Of course, it is the last part of the poem that has been troubling me. I didn't get it, I couldn't feel it. Until just the other night, when I finally realized what the question was. I know what I want, now how do I get there? How to be? What am I supposed to do?

Well, I didn't expect an answer. But, I sat quietly for a few moments and lo and behold, within myself there came an answer. Of course I'm supposed to create, paint, photograph, draw, bake, etc. And perhaps that great love I'm looking for in life is that-the creative process. But I also want to help people, to give to people, and sometimes sitting alone painting isn't the best way to really touch other people (lets face it-the art world is pretty messed up in my opinion, people outside of it don't really know it exists. Its not like Jeff Koons is giving tons of people a moment of peace or a huge beautiful experience with "his" art). Thats where this whole yoga thing comes in I think. Yoga helped me so much and made my life so much better, maybe I could do the same for other people with yoga?

This is why I love Rumi and his poetry, if you really sit with it in a quiet, patient, thoughtful manner, you can really feel the poems turning your insides, bringing things to the surface that you didn't know were even there.