Dinner With a Poet by Anum

Dinner With a Poet by Anum - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

I sit on a floor with dishes of food laid in front of me: olives, kabobs, naan, stuffed grape leaves. Across from me sits a man in a big white turban. His long white beard and dark eyes add to his wise and mystical presence and his red complexion gives him a kind look. He speaks little, but each word that falls out of his mouth is filled with depth and meaning. In front of me sits Rumi, the well-known and praised poet and Sufi scholar.
If I could have dinner with any historical figure it would be Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, more popularly known as Rumi. Each one of Rumi’s writings brings a great deal of emotion in me. With each new piece of his writing that I read, I feel as if I have unlocked yet another key to this strange world. I believe if I had the chance to talk with this amazing figure I could positively change my outlook on life and the world.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself” (Rumi). Rumi’s words could teach me how to change myself before trying to change others and change society. Reading his writing takes you to another world; sitting in a room with him and having a conversation would be an indescribable experience.
Other than this, I would have the opportunity to ask the wonderful poet about his own life. I have always wondered: what made Rumi think that way he did? What things in his life influenced him? What would his view be of contemporary society?
Because Rumi was a Muslim, I have always felt a sort of connection to him. If I had the opportunity to meet him, I could see how our shared religion shaped his life and how his views were similar or different from my own. Out of this whole experience I would learn not only about the secrets of the world, but also about myself. Through his wisdom and words I could find myself.