This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Notes
A teaching story translated by Coleman Barks
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Comments
1 - 41 of 41
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Welcome Guest
From guest The Oracle of Love (contact)
This poem has been on my mind all evening. A friend sent it to me because I was depressed about a recent breakup. I felt guilty and wondered what it was all about. She sent me this and I once again welcomed my lessons home. Rumi is one of the most ancient of poets, everyone should ponder his work as often as possible. These poetics do not survive because they are boring, as someone wrote below. Its like anything worth learning, somethings take more work to obtain than others. Lets hope that the young poets are strong enough that they will write a poem that will last a thousand years before it leaves our thoughts. Blessings are bestoyed upon all who reads Rumi. -
The Guest House
From guest Poppy1236 (contact)
This poem is in incredibly power advocate for acceptance—the antidote for judgment and judgmentalness. It does not suprise me that it is so misunderstood by our disempowered culture. -
I believe
From guest Easy Bob (contact)
This poem is a deep reflection on being in touch with our feelings and emotions (described as guests in this poem.) We can learn much from recognixing these feelings. They are guides to our state of mind and we can prepare for our reactions to them. -
From guest Michelle B (contact)
I thinkt that these lines have more meaning than people give them credit for. Life's not forever, so you can't hold things against others. Even if you feel betrayed, lost, depressed whatever, you can't let those feelings bring you down. you have to hold ur head up high and take life as it comes, because in the end it'll make you or break you, and these situations only make you stronger, they "clear you out for some new delight" and you should be greatful for whoever ends up in your life, weather it's a crap friend or a crap b/f. Each person will give you a life lesson, so take it and move on. I LOVE this poem and I recommend it for EVERYONE -
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From guest gregory west (contact)
I thought that it was a diffent poem when i read it. after i did i saw that invite death in your house and he my not do a thing.the poem didn't have any exitment -
the guest house,rumi
From guest Danielle_Hey (contact)
i don not really get the poem cause it is sort of weird in a way but i think that it could be one of the good poems thid year. -
The Guest House
From guest Jared King (contact)
I thought that it was neat. It was really cool how it was laid out. -
ok
From guest the guest house (contact)
this would not be one of the best poep i read but it is a good pope i thamk it is crazy on one is going to just walk up to my house and be like i want to live hear -
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the guest house, rumi
From guest Elizabeth Harrod (contact)
Hi, I think that this poem was ok but i really didn't get it but I do not like the way it is cause it gives me a weird feel abiut it and the guest house. -
leavin a comment fo The Guest House.
From guest shelbug (contact)
i think this poem was good. it really told allot + it was written a long time ago. so that makes it very interesting to me. i would give it a 10 out of 10 -
The Guest House
From guest Chad Avery (contact)
When Ms. Pearson read the poem The Guest House to us I saw thay you could invite death into your house and not do anything. -
the guest house
From guest gregory west (contact)
Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. -
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The Guest House
From guest A.J. Bramble (contact)
I thought that it was a diffent poem when i read it. after i did i saw that invite death in your house and he my not do a thing. so just keep on and you will stay on the right path. have no emoations when death knocks on your door. -
Zachary Perry
From guest Zachary Perry (contact)
I thought the poem didn't have any exitment. Because there was nothing to make the poem any better. There was no suspence to made the poem have any build up so the poem had nothing to lose. -
nice poem but confusing !!!!!!!
From guest Denton.W.S (contact)
I'm afraid I got confused by this poem and don't understand its meaning. -
The Guest House
From guest Cameron Whittaker (contact)
the poem was very good. it talked about the meaning of life. -
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Nesha just dropping a coment
From guest Nesha Babi (contact)
hey just wanna say the poem was good. This poem would have been better if I could under stand it. I also want to give a shout out to my moms and my bestest friend Sophie_Boo and my L.A teacher Ms. P the one who made me do this in the first place. Well gotta go peace. -
hi i am .... The guest house
From guest lyn-lee (contact)
this is a good poem i think it is really good detail... -
the guest house
From guest rodney (contact)
i think that this poem is just a little un- understandable, but a pretty good poem.... I'd give it a 7 out of 10. good job mr. rumi -
a guide
From guest antonio sizemore (contact)
this story has a great meaning but why let a stanger in your house? -
The Guest House
From guest Sophie_Boo (contact)
The peom was good. It really tells about your company, and who comes over. It all about company. Well thats all I can say. -
o.0 hi people read my comment
From guest Fall Out Boys # 1 fan (contact)
good poem. its so true in the world. o.0 =P ^-\\ ^-^ go jim carrey and eddie murphy -
RAWER THAT WAS WEIRD!!!
From guest Random Person (contact)
Yeah it somewhat confused me but I guess it's only because I'm thirteen and not all the way into poetry, but for me it was pretty decent.... Really good... The author deserves five biscuits!!!! -
the guest house
From guest Desirae Alcorn (contact)
this poem is okay... i am only a seventh grader so it is confusing to me..... like many things.... -
the guest house
From guest catherine (contact)
it is kol. . i think it should go worldwide. it expresses feelings. i like sos.n bye bye. -
The Guest House
From guest Jasmin (contact)
I am a 7th grade student from Second Street School. I think this poem is a very good analysis of feeling. At least that is what I got from it. I like it alot. I think it is going to be one of my favortie poems now. -
the guest house
From guest Dallas Roberts (contact)
Idid not really understand it because it seems like it was written in riddles -
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From guest Stephen Spisak (contact)
I thought it was okay. I think it means that life is like a guest house, and treat people with respect, however good or bad you feel. I thought the poem was oober(very) awesome. -
The guest house poem
From guest Kayla (contact)
This poem is da bomb homes!!!! I like the point of it (well i think i know the point???) -
the gust house
From guest cody white (contact)
what does it mean, why tell them to entertain. what if they don't want to entertain. -
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From guest Katy (contact)
i liked it. it was... okay. it talk alot about life and treating people decently no matter what that look like, act like, or there history. kudos! -
aww
From guest Holly Teklinski (contact)
this is a really emotional peom in witch i like. for myself i like write emotional peoms to. well keep up the good work. -
nice poem, i guess...
From guest courtney (contact)
um, the poem was nice, i guess. i liked how it was talking about dark thoughts, and all. it's really not my type of poem though. i like poems about death and stuff. ^_^ but still nice poem. ^______________^ -
From guest angela (contact)
I DONT LIKE THIS POEM BECAUSE IT IS NOT THAT GOOD AND I DONT LIKE POEMS LIKE THIS ONE AND IT IS VERY BOARING. -
guest
From guest Katie Walker (contact)
It's a good poem but it reminds me of death. You know the part on the last three lines, it just reminds me of death. But it was good. ^-^ -
Very polite in here...
This would be titled "Advice For Poets" today. The suggestions here are wonderful jumping off points for a poem. Many, probably all, poets write from their most personal experience; and this seems to encourage one to open wide the doors and let in whatever may come, and it will 'guide' one to new and greater senses. From a strictly emotional point, it grabbed me. I like this, and I agree with the previous commenter, it is quite an existentialist viewpoint. I couldn't comment with any true knowledge with regard to Des Cartes though. -
An interesting sort of Cartesian, existentialist approach to observing his own thought.
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