“Oh Beloved,
take me.
Liberate my soul.
Fill me with your love and
release me from the two worlds.
If I set my heart on anything but you
let fire burn me from inside.
Oh Beloved,
take away what I want.
Take away what I do.
Take away what I need.
Take away everything
that takes me from you”. – Rumi
Rumi’s poem is a heartfelt expression of someone longing for a deep connection with the Divine, often symbolized as the “Beloved.” It reflects the speaker’s desire to let go of worldly distractions and focus completely on love and faith.
Wanting Freedom for the Soul
In the first lines, “Oh Beloved, take me. Liberate my soul,” Rumi asks to be freed from anything holding him back. He wants to move beyond the physical world and the struggles of life, often called “the two worlds.” This shows Rumi’s wish to focus entirely on the higher power of love and spirituality instead of material things.
Burning Away Distractions
The line, “If I set my heart on anything but you, let fire burn me from inside,” uses fire as a symbol of cleansing or purifying. Rumi doesn’t want to love or care about anything that takes his attention away from the Beloved. The fire represents a way to burn away those distractions and focus completely on what truly matters.
Giving Up Everything for Love
In the second stanza, Rumi repeatedly asks, “Take away what I want. Take away what I do. Take away what I need.” By saying this, he shows a willingness to let go of personal desires, actions, and even basic needs if those things distract them from the Beloved. The final plea, “Take away everything that takes me from you,” sums up his deep commitment to focusing only on the Divine.
The Power of Love and Surrender
At its heart, the poem is about surrendering completely to love and faith. Rumi wants to be so connected to the Divine that nothing else matters. In Sufi traditions, this is called fana, which means losing yourself completely in love and becoming one with the Divine.
Conclusion
Rumi’s poem teaches us about the power of love, faith, and letting go of things that don’t matter. It encourages us to think about our own distractions and what we might need to give up to find deeper meaning and connection in our lives. Through its simple yet powerful words, the poem reminds us of the beauty of true devotion.
