Google “poems,” and chances are, a popular poet named Rumi will pop up. And deservedly so.
Rumi poems may be hundreds of years old, but they’re just as relevant today as they were when they were first written.
Who is he, you might ask? Officially known as Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, this 13th-century Persian poet and Islamic scholar took the world by storm with his remarkable gift of writing. What he’s done with poems is essentially equivalent to what Michael Jordan has done with basketball.
Centuries may have passed, but these top 10 Rumi poems prove one thing: the truths that move us most deeply never go out of style.
Rumi’s love poems
Love poems hit different. More than mere stories, they capture the heart of what it means to be human, to be vulnerable, and to be connected. They often become healing quotes we return to when we need comfort or clarity.
And Rumi’s love poems? They’re no exception.
He saw love as a bridge—a way to connect the earthly and the divine. His words carry that sense of longing and wonder, making you feel like love isn’t just an emotion but a kind of magic that’s always been there, waiting to be felt.
All Rivers at Once
What is the body? Endurance.
What is love? Gratitude.
What is hidden in our chests? Laughter.
What else? Compassion.
This poem feels like Rumi handing you a cheat sheet to life. It’s simple, straight to the point, and packed with meaning.
The body is endurance—because, let’s face it, life throws a lot at us, and our physical selves are built to hold on. Love is gratitude, reminding us that appreciating overrides taking. Laughter and compassion hidden in our chests? It’s like he’s saying everything we need to navigate this labyrinth of happiness already inside us.
Rumi’s magic here is in how he makes life’s big ideas feel so relatable.
This Marriage
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk,
this marriage, like wine and halvah.
May this marriage offer fruit and shade
like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
a seal of happiness here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
an omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe
how spirit mingles in this marriage.
Writing about marriage? That’s for amateurs. Rumi, well, he paints it like a masterpiece.
Every line drips with richness—sweet milk, wine, halvah, date palms—it’s like he’s showing us how a great marriage should taste and feel. It’s about creating something sacred, joyful, and eternal.
And that last line? “I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.” It’s like he’s saying the best things in life—love, connection, union—can’t be fully explained, only felt.
The Minute I Heard My First Love Story
The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you,
not knowing how blind that was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.
They’re in each other all along.
This poem flips the whole idea of love on its head. Rumi’s saying that love isn’t about going out into the world to find someone—it’s already there, inside you.
This idea ties closely to Sufi teachings, which view love as a divine force within each of us, waiting to be awakened. Scholars have even noted how Rumi’s poetry reflects this belief, showing that the love we seek externally is already part of who we are.
It’s a beautifully simple way of reminding us to stop searching and start noticing what’s already within.
Rumi’s poems about life
Life isn’t easy, and the poet never pretended it was. But Rumi’s poems about life feel like a gentle hand on your shoulder, reminding you that even in chaos, there’s meaning.
Much like today’s best self-help books, his words explore life’s messiness—its beauty, its pain, its uncertainty—and turn it into something sacred. These verses don’t just tell you to live fully; they make you want to.
Only Breath
Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu
Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religion
or cultural system. I am not from the East
or the West, not out of the ocean or up
from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not
composed of elements at all. I do not exist,
am not an entity in this world or in the next,
did not descend from Adam and Eve or any
origin story. My place is placeless, a trace
of the traceless. Neither body or soul.
I belong to the beloved, have seen the two
worlds as one and that one call to and know,
first, last, outer, inner, only that
breath breathing human being.
“Only Breath” is one of those poems by Rumi that strips away surface-level differences—religion, culture, identity—and focuses on the oneness that connects us all. It’s a reflection of how even uncomfortable emotions can lead us toward something greater.
As physicist Nassim Haramein puts it, “The universe is connected and alive, and we are a part of the metric of space.” It’s a beautiful intersection between poetry and science, both pointing us toward the same truth: we’re all part of something much bigger than ourselves.
The Uses of Fear
A donkey turning a millstone is not trying
To press oil from sesame seed. He is fleeing the blow
that was just struck and hoping to avoid the next.
We look to ease our pain, and this keeps civilization
Moving along. Fear is the architect here.
Fear keeps us working near the ark.
Sometimes though, it is fear, a contracting,
That brings you into the presence.
Rumi takes fear and turns it into something constructive. He compares it to a donkey running from blows, pushing a millstone that keeps civilization moving. In other words, fear motivates us to act—it can keep us safe and drive progress.
But Rumi doesn’t stop there; he hints at a deeper truth: fear is what pulls us closer to the divine. It’s a reminder that even uncomfortable emotions can serve a higher purpose.
Enough Words?
But that shadow has been serving you!
What hurts you, blesses you.
Darkness is your candle.
Your boundaries are your quest.
You must have shadow and light source both.
Listen, and lay your head under the tree of awe.
This one’s all about duality—light and shadow, pain and growth, boundaries and freedom. Rumi shifts the narrative to pain and darkness, saying they’re not enemies but teachers.
“Darkness is your candle” means that the very things that hurt or challenge us can also illuminate our path. The call to “lay your head under the tree of awe” is an invitation to embrace the mystery of life, accepting both the struggles and the beauty as part of our journey.
When I Run After What I Think I Want
When I run after what I think I want,
my days are a furnace of distress and anxiety,
if I sit in my own place of patience,
what I need flows to me, and without any pain,
from this, I understand that what I want also wants me,
and is looking for me and attracting me,
there’s a great secret in this for all who can grasp it.
This poem is like Rumi’s way of saying, “Stop running yourself ragged.”
Vishen, the founder and CEO of Mindvalley, talks about this a lot—how we’re taught to chase after stuff like degrees, promotions, and the next big thing, thinking that’s what will make us happy.
But Rumi has a different take on it. He’s saying that what you truly need is already looking for you, and the trick is to stop chasing and just listen to your soul.
Vishen sums it up nicely: “Don’t tune in to the rules of the world that tell you who to be or what to want or what to do. Instead, be who you really are, listen to that soul, and know that what the soul wants, the universe wants you to have.”
Short Rumi poems
Sometimes, just a few words can hit harder than a whole novel, and Rumi mastered that art. His short poems are like little drops of wisdom that ripple out into something bigger.
They’re quick to read but stick with you, offering flashes of clarity in the middle of life’s noise. It’s no wonder people still turn to Rumi’s poetry—his must-read poems just get it.
Craftsmanship and Emptiness
Don’t listen to them!
They seem to protect,
But they imprison.
They are your worst enemies.
They make you afraid
Of living in emptiness.
Rumi is calling out the fear of letting go. The voices that tell us to hold on to structure and control—the “they” in this poem—aren’t helping. They keep us stuck, afraid to embrace emptiness, which he sees as the space where freedom and creativity thrive.
The message here is to move beyond the comfort of safety and embrace the unknown as a space for growth and creativity.
Unfold Your Own Myth
But don’t be satisfied with stories,
How things have gone with others.
Unfold your own myth,
Without complicated explanation,
So everyone will understand the passage,
We have opened you.
This one’s all about owning your story. Rumi challenges us to stop living through the experiences of others and start creating our own narrative.
“Unfold Your Own Myth” is an invitation to embrace what makes you unique without overthinking or complicating it. It’s a powerful way of saying, “Your life is yours to live—make it meaningful in a way that resonates with the world.”
And it turns out, creating a life that reflects who you are not only feels liberating but can also boost happiness and well-being.
On the Turn
I am so small I can barely be seen.
How can this great love be inside me?
Look at your eyes. They are small,
But they see enormous things.
The Persian poet sure has a way of reminding us that size doesn’t determine impact. Even if we feel small, we hold immense love and potential within us.
The comparison to eyes is fitting—tiny but capable of perceiving the vastness of the universe. It’s a beautiful nudge to look beyond appearances and trust the power inside, no matter how invisible or insignificant it may seem.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rumi famous for?
Rumi is famous for poetry that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. His words explore love, loss, longing, and the deeper search for meaning.
What makes him stand out, though, is how timeless and relatable his ideas are. People across cultures still connect with Rumi’s work because it doesn’t feel tied to a specific time or place—it’s universal.
He’s also a go-to for anyone interested in spirituality or mindfulness. His poetry blends mysticism with emotional wisdom, offering comfort and insight in a world that’s often overwhelming. Plus, thanks to translators like Coleman Barks, Rumi’s work has become incredibly accessible, especially in the West, making him one of the most-read poets in the U.S.
What also keeps Rumi relevant is how his poetry speaks to modern challenges. Whether it’s about navigating relationships, finding inner peace, or dealing with life’s uncertainties, his words feel just as meaningful today as they did centuries ago.
That’s why scholars, spiritual seekers, and everyday readers keep coming back to him—Rumi’s poetry is beautiful, but it also serves as a guide to understanding ourselves and the world around us.
How many poems did Rumi write?
Rumi is believed to have written over 40,000 verses of poetry, though the exact count can vary depending on how his works are compiled.
His most famous collection, the Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi (The Collected Poems of Shams of Tabriz), contains about 3,200 odes and quatrains dedicated to his spiritual companion Shams.
Another major work, the Masnavi-ye Ma’navi (Spiritual Couplets), spans six volumes and includes around 25,000 verses exploring profound spiritual and philosophical ideas.
Together, these works make up some of the richest poetry in Persian literature, resonating with readers across time and cultures.
What is Rumi’s most famous poem?
If you’ve ever heard of “The Guest House,” you know why it’s one of the more famous of the Rumi poems. It’s simple, profound, and somehow feels like it’s speaking directly to your soul.
The poem compares our emotions to guests visiting a house—joy, sorrow, anger, even despair—and reminds us to welcome them all. Why? Because each one shows up with a lesson or a bit of wisdom, even the tough ones.
What makes “The Guest House” so special is how it speaks to everyone, no matter where they’re from or what they believe. Its message of embracing life’s ups and downs hits home, making it timeless and deeply resonant.
Unlock your brilliance within
Rumi once said, “Respond to every call that excites your spirit.” It’s an invitation to embrace what inspires you, to explore the unknown, and to grow in ways that resonate deeply.
With a free Mindvalley account, you’ll gain access to transformative resources that uplift your soul—like daily meditations, previews of selected quests, and a supportive community. Even Vishen draws on wisdom like Rumi quotes in his teachings, connecting ancient insights with modern personal growth.
It’s a small step that can lead to profound shifts, opening doors to the kind of inspiration found in Rumi’s famous poems and beyond.
Welcome in.
