Two Insomnias

Two Insomnias - context Summary

From Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi

This brief lyric appears in Rumi's Divan-i Shams-i Tabrizi and should be read in the context of his Sufi life. The poem contrasts two sleepless states: joyful wakefulness in the beloved's presence and restless longing when absent. By invoking Praise God, Rumi treats both conditions as spiritually meaningful rather than merely physical troubles. The lines reflect his concern with divine love and with the transformative relationship to his mentor Shams-i Tabrizi, a central presence behind many poems in this collection.