Poem Analysis - We Are As The Flute

A Humble Submission to the Divine

Rumi’s "We Are As The Flute" is a deeply spiritual poem, overflowing with humility and devotion. The speaker emphasizes humanity’s utter dependence on a higher power, referred to as "thee" and "Thou." The tone is initially reverent, acknowledging the divine source of all existence. While maintaining this core reverence, the poem also subtly shifts, incorporating imagery of action and vulnerability to illustrate this dependence.

Echoes of Persian Mysticism

Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic, wrote extensively about divine love and the yearning for union with God. His Sufi background profoundly influences the poem. Sufism emphasizes a direct, personal experience of the divine, often achieved through ecstatic practices like music and dance. This focus on direct experience and the individual's relationship with God is central to understanding the poem's message of absolute dependence.

Theme 1: Divine Origin of Existence

A central theme in the poem is the idea that all existence originates from and depends upon the divine. This is powerfully expressed through the metaphor of the flute: "We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee." The flute is a passive instrument; it can only produce music when breath (the divine essence) is blown through it. Similarly, the mountain and its echo symbolize how human actions and words are mere reflections of the divine source. The line "Our whole existence is from thy bringing into being" encapsulates this theme, emphasizing that even our very being is a gift.

Theme 2: Humility and Non-Existence

Closely tied to the idea of divine origin is the theme of human humility and the acknowledgement of our relative "non-existence" compared to the absolute being of the divine. Rumi states, "We and our existences are really non-existence; thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable." This suggests that our individual identities and actions are fleeting and insignificant when viewed against the backdrop of the eternal and infinite divine. The question "Who are we, O Thou soul of our souls, that we should remain in being beside thee?" highlights the insignificance of the self in relation to the divine.

Theme 3: The Illusion of Agency

The poem also explores the illusion of human agency, suggesting that even our victories and defeats are ultimately determined by the divine. The chess pieces "engaged in victory and defeat" represent human endeavors, implying that even apparent successes and failures are orchestrated by a higher power. The image of the lions on a banner, "rushing onward from moment to moment because of the wind," further reinforces this theme. The lions appear to be actively moving, but their movement is solely due to an unseen force (the wind, symbolizing the divine will). This image serves as a powerful metaphor for the human condition: we may believe we are acting independently, but our actions are ultimately guided by something beyond our control.

Wind and Banners: Symbols of Divine Influence

The recurring images of wind and banners carry significant symbolic weight. As mentioned above, the wind symbolizes the unseen, all-powerful force of the divine. It is the life-giving breath that animates the world and propels human actions. The banners, depicting lions, represent human strength and activity. However, these lions are merely images on cloth, their movement and power entirely dependent on the wind. This symbol reinforces the idea that human agency is an illusion, and that all our strength and actions are ultimately derived from the divine. The plea "may that which is unseen not fail from us!" underscores the desire to remain connected to this divine source of life and energy.

A Final Breath of Dependence

"We Are As The Flute" is a profound expression of spiritual devotion, emphasizing humanity’s dependence on the divine. Through vivid imagery, Rumi communicates that our existence, actions, and even our sense of self are ultimately gifts from a higher power. The poem’s central message is one of humility and surrender, urging us to recognize the divine source of all being and to relinquish the illusion of independent agency. Rumi invites us to consider that perhaps the most profound act is not to strive for individual achievement, but to open ourselves fully to the divine breath that animates us, allowing ourselves to become instruments of a greater music.