Performers relay magic of the spoken poem

Born in Persia in 1207 C.E., Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi was a Sufi mystic and poet who is known in the West simply as “Rumi.” He is currently the bestselling poet in the U.S., famous for his work’s beauty, wisdom and compassion.

One of his most famous quotes is: “Be like the sun for grace and mercy. Be like the night to cover others’ faults. Be like running water for generosity. Be like death for rage and anger. Be like the Earth for modesty. Appear as you are. Be as you appear.”

Some 30 years ago in Sebastopol, people who loved Rumi began assembling a group to celebrate the spoken-word tradition of poetry. “We were also inspired by [American poet] Robert Bly,” said Barry Spector, producer/performer of the group that evolved into Rumi’s Caravan, which returns to Freight & Salvage on Sept. 28.

Spector, and fellow performer and wife Maya, explained that the intentions were to support local community benefit organizations, to build community and, most importantly, “to help restore the oral tradition of poetry, to inspire audiences with a new imagination of the possible.”

Poems are not read aloud, but learned by heart and spoken. “The poem works us,” said Barry Spector. “[The audience] hears it much more fully.” Each of the five or six performers has a number of memorized poems, and as one performer finishes speaking, another is inspired to follow with another poem related by subject or rhythm or tone. Once, remembered Barry Spector, someone told a poem about a bird, and it was followed by 14 or 15 other poems about birds.

There are no rehearsals. In the tradition of ecstatic poetry, “The poems emerge constantly in the flow,” said Maya Spector. “It’s a magic that happens one time.” Works by modern poets, as well as those by classic writers, are included. Poets that have found their way into Rumi’s Caravan events include Hafiz, Mary Oliver, Kabir, Wendell Berry, Neruda, Rilke, Robert Bly, Yeats, Naomi Shehab Nye, William Stafford, Maya Angelou, Leonard Cohen, Seamus Heaney, Denise Levertov, Antonio Machado, May Sarton and others.

Two musicians, Jason Parmar and Arshad Seyed, accompany the performers, one on percussion and the other using a guitar/sitar hybrid instrument. “They are very talented, and extremely sensitive to what is going on with the language,” Maya Spector said. “What we do is something like jazz improvisation,” added Barry Spector.  

Listening to a poem spoken, when it has been learned by heart, is an entirely different experience than hearing it read aloud, they both emphasized. “It will take you to unexpected places,” Barry Spector said.

He recalled the story of one audience member who, after attending Rumi’s Caravan performances for years, became motivated to write her own poem—“Upon Hearing A Poem Recited, Not Read”—about the inspiration of hearing poetry spoken aloud.

“We hope to inspire everyone to memorize poems,” he said. “The oral tradition can contribute to restoring the soul of the world.”

All Rumi’s Caravan performances are fundraisers for nonprofit organizations, which over the years have included the Center for Climate Protection, the Siskiyou County Public Library, the Gualala Arts Council, the Ceres Community Project and Youth Speaks. The Freight event will benefit the Berkeley-based Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA).

Among other support, MECA provides direct aid, including food, medicine, medical supplies and clothes as well as books, toys and school supplies. Since 1988, it has sent more than $42 million in aid to children in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon, according to its website.

“MECA has been on the ground in Palestine for 30 years,” Barry Spector said. “They have lost many workers [especially in the recent violence]. We can feel so helpless … but this will raise some money and contribute to the sense of community.”

As Rumi wrote: “Listen with the ears of tolerance! See through the eyes of compassion! Speak with the language of love!”