I volunteered to write a short devotional for my church’s Lenten devotional book. The one I chose was based on the text from Jeremiah 17:7-8. When I sat down to write a couple of days ago, this re-imagined version of Rumi’s “In Baghdad, Dreaming of Cairo” came out. It’s based on the Coleman Barks adaptation of the poem. (Note: I did write an actual devotional, too, but it’s for late March, so I don’t want to spoil it).
| I was living in Baghdad. A rich uncle died. Or was it a cousin? Never mind. I was a man of wealth then, Of easy leisure. I was young and foolish, too. What did I know Of the fickle nature of money? Of how it leaks from your very pockets? Before long my fortune And my happiness had Dried up. Vanished. Only then did I think to call, “Lord, Lord!” One night in a dream, A voice came to me – The Lord, perhaps. Well, I thought so. The voice directed me, “Go to this address in Cairo. There your treasure will Be restored.” I took The little I had. I made for Cairo, reaching it With nothing but the clothes On my back. |
Shame prevented me from Begging. Only at night, Anonymously, Did I dare call out For help From the townspeople, Hoping for coins from the Dark windows. Rumors of thieves Had brought out the Night patrol. I was taken, A young man, Maybe my own age. I begged him to let me go. “I’m no thief. Just a poor man, Directed by a dream.” I told him my dream. He wept. “You fool. I’ve had the same dream, But in mine, I was Directed to go To Baghdad.” He even remembered the address. It was my own. |
