THE GUEST HOUSE
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Review and analysis of the poem by Okoro Amarachi
The poem "The Guest House" by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi explores the concept of embracing life's ups and downs as valuable experiences. It teaches to welcome all emotions, even the negative ones, as opportunities to grow and become better. It encourages individuals to find meaning in life's challenges, aligning with the prevalent spiritual. Looking at the structure of the poem, it's a poem of eighteen line with five stanza, it has no regular rhyme scheme, though, it has a rhythm. The tone of the speaker is appealing and lively and language/ diction is simple and easy to understand. There are few figures of speech used but the prominent one is metaphor, calling life “The guest house”
The Guest House reminds us that reality is ever-changing, and we cannot stop it by trying to resist it. Rumi uses the metaphor of a house guest to create an image that each day we have the opportunity to welcome something new into our lives, even if it is unexpected. The truth is being a human can be messy with unpredictable feelings and circumstances happening at once. However, all emotions are valid and indeed desirable, even those we wish to evade. One moment is joyful, another is depressed, even meanness demands attention. The speaker teaches us to accept and honor them all, he says, because each portends a new state of being. Each is the portal to new awareness. Accepting each state is accepting the entirety of one’s being.
Finally, this poem also point out Divine guidance in the end of the poem as what we should trust and rely when vulnerable. It might be part of his plan for our life. This is wisdom for all to learn in life.
photocredit: opera mini