The Reed Flute's Song by Rumi

by Once Upon A Jam

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A group project between friends across the globe, experimenting with musically infused narratives. This musical take of "The Reed Flute's Song" by Jalaluddin Rumi was created as an online collaboration using the Endlesss music platform ( endlesss.fm )
To watch the video version go to bit.ly/Rumivideo

The Reed Flute's Song by Jalalludin Rumi

Performed by
aryayawe
badrico www.twitter.com/baddrico
holler www.twitter.com/iholler
littlewing www.twitter.com/littlewingart
ludi linktr.ee/ludibund
_the boundless_ nickjonesnexus.com
thesaxophonewarrior thesaxophonewarrior.com
using the music platform Endlesss ( endlesss.fm )
Directed, mixed & produced by littlewing
Also available on Youtube with video, Apple podcasts, Spotify, etc linktr.ee/onceuponajam

lyrics

The Reed Flute’s Song (A Rumi Poem)

Listen to the story told by the reed,
of being separated.

“Since I was cut from the reedbed,
I have made this crying sound.

Anyone apart from someone he loves
understand what I say.

Anyone pulled from a source
longs to go back.

At any gathering I am there,
mingling in the laughing and grieving,

a friend to each, but few
will hear the secrets hidden

within the notes. No ears for that.
Body flowing out of spirit,

spirit up from body: no concealing
that mixing. But it’s not given us

to see the soul. The reed flute
is fire, not wind. Be that empty.”

Heart the love fire tangled
in the reed nots, as bewilderment

melts into wine. The reed is a friend
to all who want the fabric torn

and drawn away. The reed is hurt
and salve combining. Intimacy

and longing for intimacy, one
song. A disastrous surrender

and a fine love, together. The one
who secretly hears this is senseless.

A tongue has one customer, the ear.
A sugarcane flute has such effect

because it was able to make sugar
in the reedbed. The sound it makes

is for everyone. Days full of wanting,
;et them go by without worrying

that they do. Stay where you are
inside such a pure, hollow note.

Every thirst gets satisfied except
that of these fish, the mystics,

who swim a vast ocean of grace
still somehow longing for it!

No one lives in that without
being nourished every day.

But if someone doesn’t want to hear
the song of the reed flute,

it’s best to cut conversation
short, say good-bye, and leave.

(The Reed Flute’s Song by Jalaluddin Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks, The Essential Rumi)

credits

released August 21, 2021
aryayawe
badrico
holler
littlewing
ludi
_the boundless_
thesaxophonewarrior

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Once Upon A Jam UK

A group project between friends across the globe, experimenting with musically infused narratives.

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