Coleman Barks, Rumi Scholar

I had the good fortune to sit down with Coleman Barks for a 2-hour interview in the spring of 2007. He was kind, humble, and very forthcoming with his story and history. He shared his favorite Rumi poems and spent time talking about what they mean to him. But our conversation was not limited just to Rumi.

We met in a small parlor he keeps to do readings and hold discussion groups for Rumi enthusiasts. He is blessed with wisdom and serenity I have seldom encountered. I hope you enjoy these excerpts from our interview as much as I did the first time I heard them.

For a brief history of Coleman Barks, you can read about him on Wikipedia. You can follow his tours and find other information at his sometimes-active website www.ColemanBarks.com.