Poem – I Roam Neither Foolishly nor Frivolously

This is a poem of Maulana Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī. He was a 13th-century poet (1207–1273), jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic.

نه من بيهوده گرد کوچه و بازار می گردم

Naman behuda girde koocha o bazaar mi gardam,
Neither foolishly nor frivolously, in the lane and the market, I roam

 مذاق عاشقی دارم پی ديدار می گردم
Mazaq-e-aashiqui daaram paey didar mi gardam,
Possessed by the temperament of the lover I am, to have a glimpse, I roam

خدايا رحم کن بر من پريشان وار می گردم

Khudaya reham kun bar mann pareeshaan waar mi gardam,
O, God, the Almighty! Shower Your mercy upon me, disturbed and distracted, I roam

خطا کارم گناهکارم به حال زار می گردم

Khataa kaaram gunah gaaram bahaal e zaar mi gardam,
I am guilty, I am sinful and in this wretched condition, I roam

شراب شوق می نوشم به گرد يار می گردم

Sharaab-e-shouq mi nousham bagirde yaar mi gardam,
The wine of fondness I drink and round the Friend, I roam

سخن مستانه می گويم ولی هوشيار می گردم

Sukhan mastana mi goyam waley hushyaar mi gardam,
Like the intoxicated I talk, but like the wise, I roam

گهی خندم گهی گريم گهی افتم گهی خيزم

Gahe khandam gahe giriyam gahe uftam gahe khezam,
Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I weep, sometimes I fall, sometimes I rise

مسيحا در دلم پيدا و من بيمار می گردم

Maseeha dar dilam paida ho mann bimaar mi gardam,
The Messiah is within my heart and like an invalid, I roam

بیا جانا عنایت کن تو مولانای رومی را

Bayaan jaanan inayat kun to molana-e-rumi ra,
Come, O My Beloved! Come! Help your Maulana Rumi

غلام شمس تبریزم قلندروار می گردم

Ghulam-e-shams tabrezam qalandar war mi gardam
I am a slave of Shams Tabrizi and like a qalandar, I roam