The Chance of Humming by Rumi

Chance of Humming 

by 

Rumi



"The Chance of Humming" is written by the famous literary and mystical figure Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi. The 13th century Persian poet was renowned for his lyrics and his noted epic Manavi. This epic played a role in moulding the literature of the East. Rumi said that knowledge was like a torchlight helping to search the best within the soul. The poem Chance of humming is an allegory on the journey of life. This poem presents a man who is standing on two logs and is floating with the current. He is enjoying his journey and thereby humming. The two logs represent the dualities of life: life/death, past/present, body/soul. Rumi urges the readers to make a happy juxtaposition of these dualities, for life to be successful. As the traveller is moving down south he is humming and enjoying his present state. Rumi also reminds us that it is pertinent to live in the moment and to stay awake.

Furthermore, he brings a hypothetical situation, where one of these logs is tied to a camel and moving in the same direction. Everything would be fine unless the camel abruptly turns upstream thinking that it has forgotten something. The ease of the journey is disturbed. This is to show that humans are preoccupied with the pangs of the past and concerns for the future. Also to note the biblical allusion, “Thou shall not be anxious about tomorrow.” Rumi insists that we move away from the rat race of life and learn to enjoy the present moment. Life would become more meaningful.

In the final stanza, he marvels at the message of the poem. Most people refuse to live in the present. Most people stick to a reasonable plan or hope to live an ordered life. But life could turn upside down and may move away from our predicaments. Thus we refuse to see the loveliness of the present. Therefore, he advises his readers to flow freely without any remorse of the past and anxiety of the future and to enjoy the present .


Prepared by:

Dr. Susan Mathew

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