A comprehensive collection of ecstatic poetry that delights with its energy and passion, The Essential Rumi brings the vibrant, living words of famed thirteenth-century Sufi mystic Jelalludin Rumi to contemporary readers. If Rumi is the most-read poet in America today, Coleman Barks is in good part responsible. His ear for the truly divine madness in Rumi's poetry is truly remarkable." -- HUSTON SMITH, author of The World's Religions In this... delightful treasury, Barks sparklingly demonstrates once again why his free-form interpretations of [Rumi's] poetry ...have been a major impetus for the current Rumi vogue." -- Publishers Weekly Perhaps the world's greatest spiritual poet -- the gold of Rumi pours down through Coleman's words. The words leap off the page and dance!" -- JACK KORNFIELD, author of A Path with Heart The Essential Rumi is a rare and precious book that will stir the hearts of Rumi devotees and win many new converts." -- Body Mind Spirit COLEMAN BARKS is one of the premier translators of Rumi at work today. He teaches poetry at the University of Georgia.