Jalaluddin Rumi has become one of the most widely read poets in our time. This collection of verse is drawn from Rumi's masterwork the Mathnawi, often referred to as the Qur'an in the Persian tongue. The Mathnawi comprises six volumes of rhymed verse drawing on favorite stories from the Qur'an, tales of Sufi saints and masters, the sayings of Muhammed, folklore, and popular humor. Throughout its intricate tales, Rumi scatters precious gems of wisdom. Like jewels, his words seem to catch the light and reflect it to the reader's soul. The Helminskis' translations beautifully convey the subtlety, tone, and depth of the original texts.