Jelaluddin Rumi, a thirteenth century Persian mystic poet, through his writings captures the essence of Sufism’s insights into the experience of divine love, wisdom, and the nature of both humanity and God.

Coleman Barks, through his musical and magical translations, has been instrumental in bringing the exquisite works of Rumi to the western world. Coleman has published several books of Rumi’s writings and is widely regarded as the premier English interpreter of Rumi. Coleman’s reading will be accompanied by two musicians: David Darling (cello) and Glen Velez ( hand drum).   In addition to his translations of Rumi, Coleman will read from his own works.

BIO:
For twenty-eight years the poet Coleman Barks has been collaborating with various Persian scholars to bring over into American English the poetry of the 13th Century mystic, Jelaluddin Rumi. This work has resulted in eighteen volumes, culminating in the bestselling Essential Rumi (Harpercollins, 1995), two hour-long appearances on Bill Meyers' PBS specials, and inclusion in the prestigious Morton Anthology
World Masterpieces. Coleman taught poetry and creative writing in various universities for thirty-.four years. He has published six volumes of his own poetry, most recently, Tentmaking and Club Granddaughter Poems (Maypop, 2001). He is now retired Professor Emeritus of English from the University of Georgia in Athens. The Rumi translations have sold over half a million copies worldwide. He received the Juliet Hollister Award (2004) for his work in the interfaith area. He has two sons and four grandchildren, who also live in Athens, Georgia.

VITA SUMMARY
Coleman Barks, Poet and Professor Emeritus of English, University of Georgia, Athens (1967-1997). Retired.
Born April 23, 1937, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Education - BA and PhD in English, 1959, 1968, University of North Carolina. MA in English, 1961, UC Berkeley.

Awards and Honors
Morehead Scholar, University of North Carolina, 1955-59.
Edward John Noble Foundation Leadership Grant, 1959-63.
National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Grant, 1979-80.
Georgia Commission for the Arts Grant, 1981.
1st Annual Guy Owen Poetry Prize, Southern Poet Review, 1983.
Pushcart Writer's choice, 1985.
England Review / Bread Loaf Quarterly Narrative Poem Prize, 1986.
Juliet Hollister Award, 2004.

Publications - Books
The Juice (poetry), Harper & Row, 1972.
New Words (poetry), Burnt Hickory, 1976.
We're Laughing At the Damage (poetry), Briarpatch, 1971.
Night & Sleep (Rumi with Robert Bly), Yellow Moon, 1981.
Open Secret( Rumi), Threshold, 1994.
Unseen Rain (Rumi) Threshold, 1986.
We Are Three (Rumi), Maypop, 1987.
These Branching Moments (Rumi), Copper Beech, 1988.
This Longing (Rumi), Threshold, 1986.
Delicious Laughter (Rumi), Maypop, 1989.
Like This (Rumi), Maypop, 1990.
Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion (Rumi), Threshold, 1991.
One-Handed Basket Weaving (Rumi), Maypop, 1991.
Naked Song (Lalla), Maypop, 1992.
Stallion on a Frozen Lake (6th Dalai Lama), Maypop, 1992.
Birdsong (Rumi), Maypop, 1993.
The Hand of Poetry (Sanai, Attar, Rumi, Saadi, Hafiz), Omega Press, 1993.
Gourd Seed (poetry), Maypop, 1993.
(Rumi), Maypop, 1994.
Xenia (a collection of lost words), Maypop, 1994.
The Essential Rumi, HarperCollins, 1995.
The Illuminated Rumi, Broadway, 1997.
The Glance (Rumi), Viking, 1999.
The Soul of Rumi, HarperCollins, 2001.
Tentmaking (poetry), Maypop, 2001.
Club: Granddaughter Poems (poetry), Maypop, 2001.
Rumi the Book of Love, HarperCollins, 2003.
The Drowned Book, Ecstatic and Earthy Reflections of Bahauddin, Rumi's father, HarperCollins, 2004.
The New Expanded Essential Rumi, HarperCollins, 2004.

More about Coleman: http://www.colemanbarks.com