Poem Rumi Guest House

Last year I spent a few weekends in the beautiful national park De Sallandse Heuvelrug, in the eastern province Overijssel. The house where I stayed, had a beautiful poem of the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi hanging on the wall. Every time I saw it, I reminded myself to write it down or look it up. But I completely forgot and remembered it on my way back home from the last weekend, when it was too late. 

Wonderful gift

The next morning I went running in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. It was a gorgeous winter day. I was listening to the new album of Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams. And guess what, all of the sudden it struck me from out of nowhere. Track 7, Kaleidoscope, turns out to be a recital of this exact poem! Listening to the music, running and enjoying the sunlight, I totally did not expect this. It really felt like a wonderful gift. Just one of those moments…

Guesthouse poem Rumi

Enjoy this being human!

Because I wanted to share this poem with you I illustrated it with watercolour butterflies. Click the link below to download my free art print in high resolution in case you want to frame it. And to all of you: enjoy this being human!

Blue-butterfly

Download your free printable here

For those of you who prefer plain text:

Guest House

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.