Poetry and Literature
Poetry plays an important role in the transmission of Bektashi spirituality. Several important Ottoman-era poets were Bektashis, and Yunus Emre, the most acclaimed poet of the Turkish language, is generally recognized as a subscriber to the Bektashi order.
A poem from Bektashi poet Balım Sultan (died 922 AH/1516 CE):
- "İstivayı özler gözüm,
- Seb'al-mesânîdir yüzüm,
- Ene'l-Hakk'ı söyler sözüm,
- Miracımız dardır bizim,
- Haber aldık muhkemattan,
- Geçmeyiz zâttan sıfattan,
- Balım nihan söyler Hakk'tan,
- İrşâdımız sırdır bizim."
- "My eye seeks out repose;
- my face is the 'oft repeated seven (i.e. the Sura Al-Fatiha).
- My words proclaim 'I am the Truth';
- Our ascension is (by means of) the scaffold.
- We have become aware through the 'firm letters';
- We will not abandon essence or attributes.
- Balim speaks arcanely of God;
- Our teaching is a mystery."
Read more about this topic: Bektashi Order
Famous quotes containing the words poetry and/or literature:
“Indeed, the best books have a use, like sticks and stones, which is above or beside their design, not anticipated in the preface, not concluded in the appendix. Even Virgil’s poetry serves a very different use to me today from what it did to his contemporaries. It has often an acquired and accidental value merely, proving that man is still man in the world.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“The desire to create literature leads to frights, grunts, and coy looks.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)