Because beautiful poems inspire beautiful pictures.

The extensive body of work by 13th-century mystic poet Jelaluddin Rumi continues to fascinate readers with a taste for the spiritual, and his writings, which speak passionately of truth, enlightenment, and love for God, appeal to those of all religions. Translations of Rumi's writings by the contemporary poet Coleman Barks have sold more than 500,000 copies since 1981. Now acclaimed illustrator Michael Green -- who collaborated with Barks on "The Illuminated Rumi" -- has produced a new and fabulous mystic fusion of sacred poetry and art. This all-new volume features rare poems of Rumi, some of which have never before been translated. There are many collections of Rumi's poetry, but few are illustrated-and none as gorgeously as this full-color book. It is well positioned to capture the favor of spiritual seekers of all ages, including today's spiritually adventurous young adults.

Blue Iris: Poems and Essays
by Oliver, Mary

An elegant collection of poetry and prose about flowers, trees, and plants of all sorts; a companion to Owls and Other Fantasies

Owls and Other Fantasies, Mary Oliver's poems and essays about birds, was one of the best-selling volumes of poetry of 2003 and a Book Sense 76 selection. Blue Iris, Oliver's new collection, is designed to be a companion to that volume. Elegantly illustrated, Blue Iris brings together ten new poems, two dozen of Mary Oliver's favorite poems, and two previously unpublished essays. The poet considers roses, of course, and poppies and peonies; lilies and morning glories; the thick-bodied black oak and the fragrant white pine; the tall sunflower and the slender bean.

James Dickey has said of her, "Far beneath the surface-flash of linguistic effect, Mary Oliver works her quiet and mysterious spell. It is a true spell, unlike any other poet's, the enchantment of the true maker." In Blue Iris, she has captured with breathtaking clarity the "true enchantment" and "mysterious spell" of flowers, weeds, plants, and trees and their magnetic hold on us.

How to Paint Sunlight: Lyric Poems & Others (1997-2000)
by Ferlinghetti, Lawrence

How to Paint Sunlight, a new collection of poems by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, is graced with a short introduction by the poet in which he says, "All I ever wanted to do was paint light on the walls of life". For more than fifty years Ferlinghetti has been doing just that -- illuminating both the everyday and the unusual, all the while keeping true to his original dictum of speaking in a way accessible to everyone.

The Illuminated Rumi
by Barks, Coleman, Green, Michael, Green, Michael

Rise up nimbly and go on your strange journey to the ocean of meanings...
In the mid-thirteenth century, in a dusty marketplace in Konya, Turkey, a city where Muslim, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist travelers mingled, Jelaluddin Rumi, a popular philosopher and scholar, met Shams of Tabriz, a wandering dervish. Their meeting forever altered the course of Rumi's life and influenced the mystical evolution of the planet. The bond they formed was everlasting--a powerful transcendent friendship that would flow through Rumi as some of the world's best-loved ecstatic poetry.
Rumi's passionate, playful poems find and celebrate sacred life in everyday existence. They speak across all traditions, to all peoples, and today his relevance and popularity continue to grow. In "The Illuminated Rumi," Coleman Barks, widely regarded as the world's premier translator of Rumi's writings, presents some of his most brilliant work, including many new translations. To complement Rumi's universal vision, Michael Green has worked the ancient art of illumination into a new, visually stunning form that joins typography, original art, old masters, photographs, and prints with sacred images from around the world.
"The Illuminated Rumi" is a truly groundbreaking collaboration that interweaves word and image: a magnificent meeting of ancient tradition and modern interpretation that uniquely captures the spiritual wealth of Rumi's teachings. Coleman Barks's wise and witty commentary, together with Michael Green's art, makes this a classic guide to the life of the soul for a whole new generation of seekers.