Poem Analysis - He Comes

A Drunken Awakening: Introduction

Rumi's "He Comes" is a passionate and ecstatic declaration of spiritual love and transformation. The poem surges with a devotional fervor, depicting the soul's overwhelming experience of divine encounter. The tone is initially reverent and awestruck, shifting into a more boldly celebratory and self-abandoning mood as the poem progresses, mimicking the intoxicating effect of divine love. The poem reads like a spiritual intoxication, a blurring of boundaries between the self and the divine beloved. The speaker uses vivid imagery to convey a sense of ecstatic immersion.

Rumi's Spiritual Context

Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, deeply influenced the development of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. His poetry frequently explores themes of divine love, union with God, and the annihilation of the ego. Knowing this context helps us understand the seemingly amorous language of the poem as symbolic of a deeper spiritual connection. The “wine” and “cup” are not merely alcoholic beverages, but metaphors for divine grace and the vessel of the soul, respectively. His work reflects the Sufi emphasis on experiencing God directly through love and devotion, rather than adhering to rigid dogma.

The Inebriating Power of Divine Love

One central theme is the transformative power of divine love, depicted as an intoxicating force. The lines "Lo, from the flagon of thy love, O Lord, my soul is swimming, / And ruined all my body’s house of clay!" illustrate how divine love overwhelms the speaker, dismantling the physical and earthly constraints of the "body's house of clay." This "ruin" is not negative; it's a necessary demolition for spiritual rebuilding. Later, the poem states, "Wine fired my bosom and my veins filled up," solidifying the association of divine love with an intoxicating and all-consuming passion. The love is depicted as so powerful it remakes the individual.

Demolishing the Ego: Building a New Self

Another key theme is the destruction of the ego as a prerequisite for spiritual enlightenment. The image of "Love's mighty arm from roof to base each dark abode is hewing," suggests a forceful clearing away of the ego's defenses and illusions. The "dark abode" represents the heart burdened by worldly attachments and ignorance. The "chinks reluctant catch a golden ray" represent the last vestiges of ego resisting the light of divine truth. This active demolition is vital to exposing the heart to the full radiance of divine love.

The All-Consuming Image of Divine Beauty

The poem uses potent imagery to convey the overwhelming beauty and presence of the divine. The opening line, "He comes, a moon whose like the sky ne’er saw, awake or dreaming," establishes the beloved as an unparalleled and radiant being. The moon symbolizes divine beauty and guidance. Later, Rumi refers to a specific location when he calls his beloved, "O Tabriz’s Sun!" This final image ties the universal experience of divine love to a specific place and person, suggesting that the divine can be found in the everyday and the concrete. Is this “sun” a personification of God, or a divine figure on Earth who carries God’s grace?

Concluding Ecstasy

"He Comes" is a vibrant expression of spiritual yearning and the intoxicating experience of divine love. Rumi uses vivid imagery, particularly the metaphors of wine and light, to illustrate the transformative power of this love, which dismantles the ego and allows the soul to merge with the divine. The poem ultimately celebrates the ecstatic union with the beloved, depicting a journey of self-annihilation and spiritual awakening. It's a testament to the belief that true freedom lies in surrendering to the overwhelming force of divine love.