Cradle My Heart
Cradle My Heart - meaning Summary
Longing as Spiritual Yearning
Rumi's poem frames earthly longing as a spiritual plea. The speaker sends a star to carry devotion to the Beloved in Tabriz, exposes inner wounds, and waits until the "child of my heart" is soothed. Images of transformation—dark stones into gold—and a plea to the Saaqhi for wine express desire for union and spiritual nourishment. The poem contrasts the town of unity with dissolution, asking release from bewilderment toward ecstatic reunion.
Read Complete AnalysesLast night, I was lying on the rooftop, thinking of you. I saw a special Star, and summoned her to take you a message. I prostrated myself to the Star and asked her to take my prostration to that Sun of Tabriz. So that with his light, he can turn my dark stones into gold. I opened my chest and showed her my scars, I told her to bring me news of my bloodthirsty Lover. As I waited, I paced back and forth, until the child of my heart became quiet. The child slept, as if I were rocking his cradle. Oh Beloved, give milk to the infant of the heart, and don’t hold us from our turning. You have cared for hundreds, don’t let it stop with me now. At the end, the town of unity is the place for the heart. Why do you keep this bewildered heart in the town of dissolution? I have gone speechless, but to rid myself of this dry mood, oh Saaqhi, pass the narcissus of the wine.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.