Poem Analysis - Our Feast Our Wedding

Rumi's "Our Feast, Our Wedding" is a vibrant, ecstatic celebration of divine love and union. The poem creates a sense of joyous abandon, moving through images of feasting, wedding, and ecstatic spiritual practice. Its tone is one of fervent devotion, punctuated by moments of playful intimacy and profound reverence. Throughout the poem there are continuous shifts in tone from adoration to intense desire. This creates a feeling of intimacy and immediacy, drawing the reader into the poet's passionate experience.

The Wedding as Metaphor for Divine Union

One of the primary themes of the poem is the idea of divine union. The wedding imagery is central to this, with the "feast" and "wedding" symbolizing the soul's ecstatic merging with the divine beloved, often interpreted as God. Rumi uses the wedding not as a literal event, but as a metaphor for the perfect harmony and completion found in spiritual unity. The phrase "God fit the feast and wedding / To our length like a proper garment" suggests a tailored, perfect fit between the individual soul and the divine, emphasizing the intimacy and personal nature of this union. The “beautifully-faced Beloved” orchestrates “a different kind of wedding every night”, signaling an ever-evolving and dynamic relationship with the divine.

Intimacy and Desire: Longing for the Beloved

Another key theme is the intense longing and desire for the divine Beloved. This is expressed through both tender and seemingly contradictory language. The speaker delights in the Beloved's cruelty, stating that "Cruelty suits You well." This hints at the Sufi concept of annihilation of the self (fana) in the face of divine will. The speaker is willing to surrender everything, even the ego, in pursuit of union with the Beloved. This passionate surrender is further emphasized with "Step as You wish on our bloody Soul." This is not about masochism but about complete dedication and the acceptance of whatever is necessary for spiritual growth. The constant calling to the "Soul of my Soul" and the desire to be taken to the "Beloved's temple" underscores this relentless pursuit and yearning for closeness.

Ecstatic Practice: Dance and Music as Pathways to the Divine

The poem also explores the ecstatic practices of Sufism, particularly dance and music, as pathways to experiencing divine presence. The lines "Keep dancing, O considerate ones. / Keep whirling and dancing" directly reference the Sufi practice of Sama', a form of meditative dance that aims to induce a state of spiritual ecstasy. The imagery of the drum and tambourine becoming "our clothes" suggests that these instruments are not merely accessories, but essential elements that clothe and define the spiritual experience. The excitement building and "Sufis becom(ing) exuberant" is a direct response to "God's absence," creating a paradox of seeking the divine *through* spiritual tools during a perceived separation.

Recurring Symbols: River, Wine, and the Cook

Several potent symbols recur throughout the poem. The river symbolizes the flow of divine grace and the soul's journey toward union. The speaker celebrates how the Beloved "flow[s] in our stream" and "flow[s] with our desires," suggesting a harmonious alignment between the individual's will and the divine current. The mention of "Joseph of our world" further underscores the symbol of perfect beauty. The wine and the "glasses" into which “blood” is drunk can be interpreted as symbolic of divine love. In the last stanza, the Sultan is in the kitchen, "cooking with joy", "the Beloved is cooking our Halva." The act of cooking serves as a metaphor for the transformation of the soul through divine love, with the Halva, a sweet dessert, representing the final, perfected state of union. The image of the divine figure engaging in a domestic act is unexpected, which makes the image more intimate and moving.

A Tapestry of Divine Love

In conclusion, "Our Feast, Our Wedding" is a rich tapestry woven with threads of love, desire, and spiritual ecstasy. Rumi masterfully uses wedding imagery, symbolic language, and references to Sufi practices to convey the transformative power of divine love. The poem celebrates the potential for intimate union between the individual soul and the divine, offering a glimpse into the joy and surrender that lie at the heart of the Sufi path. It's a poem that invites us to question the nature of love, the boundaries of the self, and the possibilities for experiencing profound spiritual connection through ecstatic devotion.