Coleman Barks

Coleman Barks is an American poet and academic best known for his translations and interpretations of the works of 13th-century Persian poet Rumi. His contemporary renderings of Rumi's poetry, beginning in the 1970s, helped bring the Sufi mystic's writings to widespread popularity in the English-speaking world. Though not fluent in Persian, Barks worked from scholarly translations to create more accessible versions that captured the spiritual and emotional essence of Rumi's work. His translations have sold over two million copies and have been credited with making Rumi the best-selling poet in the United States. Born in 1937 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Barks taught literature at the University of Georgia for three decades. He has published several collections of his own poetry in addition to his Rumi translations, including Gourd Seed and Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems. Through his work with Rumi's poetry, Barks has received numerous honors including the Juliet Hollister Award for his contribution to interfaith understanding and the Translation Award from the International Society for Iranian Studies. His interpretations have been used in various media, from recordings to dance performances, further extending Rumi's influence in contemporary culture.

Readers value Barks' ability to make Rumi's poetry accessible to modern English speakers. Many note how his translations capture the emotional depth while maintaining readability. On Amazon, readers describe the translations as "soul-touching" and "transformative." Common criticism focuses on Barks not knowing Persian and working from other translations. Some scholars and readers argue his versions stray too far from Rumi's original meanings. As one Goodreads reviewer notes: "These are beautiful poems but they're more Barks than Rumi." Several readers point out that Barks removes many Islamic references and contexts from the poems. A frequent comment is that his interpretations "westernize" Rumi's work. Ratings across platforms: Amazon: 4.7/5 (over 5,000 reviews) Goodreads: 4.3/5 (The Essential Rumi - 47,000+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4.5/5 Most negative reviews center on authenticity concerns rather than the quality of the English poetry itself. Even critics often acknowledge the beauty of Barks' language while questioning its faithfulness to the source material.

The Essential Rumi - A collection of Rumi's poetry translated and interpreted by Coleman Barks, covering themes of love, spirituality, and mysticism.

The Soul of Rumi: A New Collection of Ecstatic Poems - Selected works from Rumi's Masnavi and Divan translated into contemporary English verse.

Rumi: The Big Red Book - Translations of Rumi's works focusing on his relationship with his teacher Shams Tabrizi.

Winter Sky: New and Selected Poems, 1968-2008 - Original poetry by Coleman Barks spanning four decades of his work.

The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of Persia - Translations of works by five Persian poets including Rumi, with lectures by Inayat Khan.

Rumi: Bridge to the Soul - Translations of Rumi's ghazals and other poems focused on spiritual transformation.

The Book of Love: Poems of Ecstasy and Longing - Translations of Rumi's poetry centered on themes of divine and human love.

Naked Song - Original poems by Coleman Barks exploring personal and spiritual themes.

The Drowned Book - Translations of Rumi's poetry with emphasis on water imagery and metaphors.

Gourd Seed - A collection of Barks' original poetry reflecting on nature and Southern American experiences.

Rumi wrote Persian poetry in the 13th century that Coleman Barks helped popularize through translation. Rumi's works share similar spiritual and mystical themes focused on divine love and inner transformation.

Daniel Ladinsky translates Hafiz's Persian poetry with a style that captures spiritual devotion and ecstatic themes. His translation approach parallels Barks' method of making classical Sufi poetry accessible to modern readers.

Robert Bly translates international poetry and writes about men's spirituality through mythological frameworks. His translations of Kabir and other mystic poets explore similar territory as Barks' work.

Jane Hirshfield writes and translates Buddhist-influenced poetry focused on mindfulness and spiritual insight. Her work shares the contemplative qualities and interest in Eastern wisdom traditions found in Barks' translations.

Stephen Mitchell translates sacred texts and poetry from multiple traditions including Rilke, Tao Te Ching, and Bhagavad Gita. His translations aim to communicate the essence of spiritual texts to contemporary readers.