Poem Analysis - Love Is The Master

Overview: Surrender to the Divine

Rumi's "Love Is The Master" is a passionate exploration of the overwhelming power of divine love. The poem's tone oscillates between awe and vulnerability, depicting the speaker's complete surrender to a force beyond his control. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Rumi conveys the experience of being utterly consumed and directed by love, presenting it as both a source of turmoil and profound transformation. The poem resonates with a sense of both helplessness and joyous submission.

Context: Rumi's Mystical Vision

Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, often wrote about his personal relationship with God. His poetry is deeply rooted in Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes the direct, personal experience of the divine. This context helps us understand the poem's focus on love not as a romantic or earthly emotion, but as a force that connects the individual soul to the divine source. Rumi's own life, marked by spiritual seeking and profound experiences of divine love, deeply informs his poetic voice.

Theme: The Mastery of Love

The central theme of the poem is the absolute mastery of love over the individual. From the opening lines, "Love is the One who masters all things; / I am mastered totally by Love," Rumi establishes love as an all-encompassing power. The speaker presents himself as utterly subservient, using metaphors like a "straw before the wind" and a "cat in a sack" to illustrate his lack of control. This complete surrender is not presented as negative, but rather as a path to spiritual transformation. The speaker finds himself being ground "sweet as sugar", an alchemical image where hardship and trial transforms him for the better.

Theme: The Illusion of Free Will

Another key theme is the illusion of free will in the face of divine power. Rumi questions the notion of making "a pact with Destiny," portraying such claims as the folly of "a liar and a fool." He argues that humans are mere "straw[s] in a storm," unable to control the forces that shape their lives. This idea underscores the Sufi belief in divine providence, the idea that God's will is the ultimate force guiding all events. The lines "God is working everywhere his massive Resurrection; / How can we pretend to act on our own?" reinforce this theme by suggesting that human actions are ultimately part of a larger divine plan.

Theme: Constant Transformation

The poem also explores the theme of constant transformation through the power of love. The image of the speaker being "swung round and round His head" illustrates the dizzying, disorienting nature of this transformative process. Love is not a static or comfortable experience but a dynamic force that pushes the individual beyond their limits. This idea is further emphasized by the image of "mill wheels" constantly turning, representing the ceaseless cycle of spiritual striving and purification that characterizes the Sufi path. The turning and crying out illustrates the pain and joy of this devotion.

Symbolism: The Wind and the River

Several recurring symbols in the poem contribute to its overall message. The wind serves as a symbol of divine power and unpredictability. The speaker's comparison of himself to a "straw before you" highlights his vulnerability and lack of agency in the face of this force. The river, particularly the "furious river" into which the "lovers of God have fallen", symbolizes the overwhelming and often turbulent nature of divine love. It is a river of complete surrender to the divine flow, of being swept away by God's will, forgoing any pretense of control. This also symbolizes baptism as well as the endless journey towards God.

Conclusion: A Dance of Surrender

In conclusion, "Love Is The Master" is a powerful expression of the Sufi concept of divine love. Through vivid imagery and metaphors, Rumi portrays the experience of being utterly consumed and transformed by a force beyond human control. The poem's significance lies in its exploration of the paradoxical relationship between surrender and spiritual growth. By relinquishing the illusion of free will and embracing the mastery of love, the speaker suggests that the individual can find true meaning and fulfillment in a world guided by divine providence. The poem is a song of surrender, an ode to the power of divine love to shape and transform the human spirit.