Selected Couplets of Maulana Jalaluddin Balkhi (Rumi)

The writing of rubai and quatrains is an old Persian poetic tradition, dating back to poet and singer Rudaki (born 858 A.D.) and likely even before him. In his collection “Kolliat of Shams Tabrizi” the Iranian scholar Professor Froozanfar devoted the entire 8th volume to 983 rubai attributed to the poet Rumi. I have selected 220 of these in my book to familiarise Persian speaking people with Rumi’s writing in this form.