Jalal-uddin Rumi was born in what is now Afghanistan in 1207. His poetry has inspired generations of spiritual seekers, both from his own Sufi school and well beyond. His poems speak to the seeker and the lover in all of us. He is one of the world's most loved poets and spiritual teachers, and is currently the bestselling poet in America. Translations of his work are becoming international bestsellers; Deepak Chopra has set Rumi's poems to music in CD form; films of his life are being optioned. These beautiful, contemporary new translations speak directly to us, now. The poems in this collection will be grouped thematically. They will be accompanied by stunning, evocative paintings by Melita Kolin (one of the translators), done especially for the book, as well as Persian calligraphy of the poems.