One of my favorite poems (by Emily Dickinson)
I died for beauty - but was scarce
Adjusted in the Tomb
When One who died for Truth, was lain
In an adjoining Room
He questioned softly “Why I failed?”
“For Beauty,” I replied
“And I - for Truth - Themself are One
We Brethren, are,” He said
And so, as Kinsmen, met a Night
We talked between the Rooms
Until the Moss had reached our lips
And covered up - our names
I have a photo copy of a picture sent to me by a friend of Idries Shah’s tombstone (he’s buried near London) It is a slab of white marble in the shape of a pointed arch. On it are his name and dates and this inscription (I think it’s a quote of Rumi’s)
Do not look at my outward shape
But take what is in my hand
All my best,
obo
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Posted by bob vavrina on 09/01 at 10:03 PM
Perhaps it’s an attraction to old friends or deep influences.
Posted by mark walter on 09/02 at 04:54 AM
Hi Obo - beautiful poem, I’ve not read that one before. I’d be interested to see a photo of the Shah epitaph if you wouldn’t mind showing me it sometime.
Mark - Perhaps you’re right. I tend to think of it in a historical sense, much as you might visit a famous building or scene of important event. It’s really not ‘spiritual’ at all as I always feel the person has ‘gone’ but then you do wonder what they’re ‘doing now’ and of course, by extension, what will happen to you when in the same situation.
Posted by on 09/02 at 11:11 AM
Headstone Project: Rumi
I know it’s a cumbersome name but I can’t think of another one (any suggestions gratefully received) and the whole thing is a bit weird to be honest but for a number of years I have been visiting the tombs and graves of people who have had some resonance for me in my life - I thought it was about time to gather my photos and notes of these and get them in some sort of order so I’ll intermittently publish them here and write a bit about the people.
I should stress there is no element of ‘shrine-visiting’ in all this - it’s just that if I’m in Damascus then Ibn Arabi’s tomb is somewhere I like to visit because I’m interested in his work. It’s not a ‘looking for a miracle or blessing’ thing although a lot of that does go on and it is a useful opportunity to observe it.
In time I’m going to dig out some photos of Orage’s beautiful headstone, Sir Richard Burton’s Arab tent mausoleum at Mortlake and Gurdjieff’s dolmens in Fontainbleau. I also have some photos of Uwais al-Qarni’s alleged resting place stashed somewhere too but for now here are some of Rumi’s mausoleum in Konya. I didn’t take these but will dig mine out and write an update of several visits to Konya over the next week or so.