Discourses of Rumi

132 V DISCOURSES OF RUMItouch.” If they turn their backs on the tomb of agreat saint, it is not out of disobedience or neglect.They have turned their faces toward that saint’sessence, for these words spoken here are theiressence. There is no harm in turning away fromthe body to face the soul.It is a custom of mine that I want no heart tobecome distressed through me. During our meetings,sometimes a great multitude thrust themselvesupon me and some of my friends try to fendthem off. That disturbs me. I have said a hundredtimes, “Say nothing on my account. I am contentwith that.” I care to such a degree that when suchfriends come to me, I dread the thought of boringthem, so I speak poetry for their enjoyment.Otherwise, what do I care about poetry? By God,I care nothing for poetry. There is nothing worsein my eyes. To me, it is like the cook who plungeshis hand into tripe, cleaning it out for the sake ofa guest’s appetite.A merchant searches to see what products areneeded in their city, and what the people want tobuy. Then they buy and sell those goods and services,even if they are the lowest of things in their