Rumi wrote much about silence. br Does that seem strange? br br Poets live with silence: br the silence before the poem; br the silence whence the poem comes; . br br the silence in between the words, as you br drink the words, watch them glide through your mind, br feel them slide down your throat br towards your heart; br br the silence which you share with the poet br when the poem ends, sitting side by side, br feeling one another being one heart; br br the silence after the poem, br when you are a different person br from the person who started reading the poem, br think differently, move differently, br act differently; know Rumi a little better br as a friend; know yourself a little more br as a friend. br br Rumi was asked, why do you br talk, talk, talk, so much br about silence? br br He said, the radiant one inside me br has said nothing. br br And that’s the silence which we listen to br and hear in Rumi’s heart, br here, sitting in the cool shade br which the scent of roses seems to love, br while the fountain gently plays like a poet br with sound and silence.