"Behind The Scenes" by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi is a mystical and contemplative poem that explores the presence of the divine in the natural world and the search for spiritual truth. The poem portrays a sense of wonder and longing for a deeper connection with the divine.
"Behind The Scenes" by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi
Is it your face
that adorns the garden?
Is it your fragrance
that intoxicates this garden?
Is it your spirit
that has made this brook
a river of wine?
Hundreds have looked for you
and died searching
in this garden
where you hide behind the scenes.
But this pain is not for those
who come as lovers.
You are easy to find here.
You are in the breeze
and in this river of wine.
Summary
"Behind The Scenes" describes the presence of the divine in the natural world, particularly in a garden. The poem begins with a series of questions, asking whether it is the divine presence that adorns the garden with beauty, intoxicates it with fragrance, and turns a brook into a river of wine. The speaker suggests that hundreds of people have searched for the divine in this garden and died in their quest because the divine presence is hidden "behind the scenes."
The poem contrasts the pain of those who seek the divine with the ease of finding it for those who approach as lovers. The speaker asserts that the divine presence is easily discoverable in the garden, in the breeze, and in the river of wine, suggesting that a deep connection with the divine is accessible to those who approach with love and openness.
Critical Analysis
"Behind The Scenes" is a poem that reflects Rumi's mystical and spiritual worldview. It emphasizes the idea that the divine presence is woven into the fabric of the natural world, and those who approach with a loving heart can readily perceive it. The garden serves as a symbol of the world infused with divine beauty and fragrance.
The poem suggests that many people have sought the divine but have not found it because they approach with the wrong mindset or motivations. The divine presence is hidden "behind the scenes," implying that it is not immediately apparent to those who seek it superficially or with selfish intentions.
The concept of pain in the poem may refer to the frustration and disappointment experienced by those who seek the divine through external means or intellectual pursuits but fail to find a genuine connection. On the other hand, those who come as lovers, with a sincere and open heart, can easily recognize the divine presence in the world around them.
The imagery of the breeze and the river of wine conveys a sense of the divine's pervasive and intoxicating nature, suggesting that the divine can be experienced in the ordinary and the extraordinary aspects of life.
Themes
- The Presence of the Divine: The poem explores the idea that the divine presence is infused in the natural world and can be discovered by those who approach with love and openness.
- Spiritual Search: The poem contrasts the search for the divine by those who come with various motivations and approaches. It suggests that genuine seekers find the divine presence more easily.
- Divine Beauty and Intoxication: The garden, fragrance, and river of wine serve as symbols of the divine's beauty and intoxicating nature.
Attitudes/Feelings
- Wonder: The poem conveys a sense of wonder at the beauty and fragrance of the garden and the divine presence hidden within it.
- Longing: The speaker expresses a sense of longing for a deeper connection with the divine and suggests that others have also sought this connection.
- Openness and Love: The poem emphasizes the importance of approaching the divine with openness, sincerity, and love.
Literary Devices
- Metaphor: The garden, fragrance, and river of wine are used metaphorically to represent the divine presence and its qualities.
- Personification: The divine presence is personified as adorning the garden, intoxicating it, and making the brook into a river of wine.
- Imagery: The poem employs vivid sensory imagery to convey the beauty and fragrance of the garden, creating a sensory-rich experience for the reader.
- Symbols: The garden symbolizes the world infused with the divine, while the breeze and the river of wine symbolize the pervasive and intoxicating nature of the divine presence.
Discussion Question
How does the poem "Behind The Scenes" by Rumi convey the idea that the divine presence is hidden within the natural world and can be readily perceived by those who approach with love and sincerity? What role do questions and metaphors play in conveying this concept?