How perverse of the <i>New Yorker</i> to omit mention of William C. Chittick in an article regarding Western translation of Mowlana (Rumi) and Shams, and Islam. He is, after all, the definitive and authoritative English translator of Rumi.<p>I just opened my copy of <i>The Sufi Path of Love</i> by Chittick at random. The chapter is called <i>Attainment to God</i>. Here is (a sample of) Chittick's translation (indentations mine):<p><pre><code> Oh rose,
adorn the meadows and laugh
for all to see!
for you had to hide
among the thorns for months.
Oh garden,
nurture well these new arrivals
the tales of whose coming
you had heard
from the thunder.
Oh wind,
make the branches dance
in the remembrance
of the day you wafed
over union.
Behold these trees,
all of them joyful
like a gathering
of the felicitous
Oh violet
why are you bent over
in heartache?
The lily says
to the buds:
though your eyes are closed
they will soon open,
for you you have tasted
of good fortune.
...
I speak of roses, nightingales
and the beauties of the garden
as a pretext.
Why do I do it?
For the sake of Love's Jealousy!
At any rate, I am describing
God's graces.
The pride of Tabriz and the world,
Shams al-Din [Sun of Religion]
has again shown me
favor.
</code></pre>
<a href="https://www.williamcchittick.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.williamcchittick.com/</a><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chittick" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chittick</a><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157126.Sufi_Path_of_Love" rel="nofollow">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157126.Sufi_Path_of_Love</a>