Barks taught literature at the University of Georgia for three decades. Barks makes frequent international appearances and is well known throughout the Middle East. Barks' work has contributed to an extremely strong following of Rumi in the English-speaking world. Due to his work, the ideas of Sufism have crossed many cultural boundaries over the past few decades. Coleman Barks received an honorary doctorate from Tehran University in 2006. He has also read his original poetry at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival. In March 2009 Barks was inducted to the Georgia Writers' Hall of Fame.
Personal life
He currently lives in Athens, Georgia, where he interprets the writings of Rumi and composes poetry of his own. In early 2011, Barks suffered a stroke that has somewhat impaired his speech and has resulted in at least one cancelled appearance.
Rumi interpretations
Barks has published several volumes of his interpretations of Rumi's poetry since 1976, including The Hand of Poetry, Five Mystic Poets of Persia in 1993, The Essential Rumi in 1995, The Book of Love in 2003 and A Year with Rumi in 2006.
Criticism
Barks does not speak or read Persian; his 'translations' are therefore technically paraphrases. Barks bases his paraphrases entirely on other English translations of Rumi which include renderings by John Moyne and Reynold A. Nicholson. In addition, while the original Persian poetry of Rumi is heavily rhymed and metered, Barks has used primarily free verse. In some instances, he will also skip or mix lines and metaphors from different poems into one 'translation'. For example, here is a very literal rendering by Reynold A. Nicholson,
On the Day of Resurrection every hidden thing will be made manifest: every sinner will be ignominiously exposed by himself. His hands and feet will give evidence and declare his iniquity in the presence of Him whose help is sought. His hand will say, 'I have stolen such and such'; his lip will say, 'I have asked such and such questions'; His foot will say. 'I have gone to things desired'; his pudendum will say, 'I have committed fornication.' His eye will say, 'I have cast amorous glances at things forbidden'; his ear will say, 'I have gathered evil words.' Therefore he is a lie from head to foot, for even his own members give him the lie, Just as, in the specious prayers, their fine appearance was proved to be false testimonio testiculi. Act, then, in such wise that the action itself, without tongue, will be saying 'I testify' and the most explicit declaration, So that your whole body, limb by limb, O son, will have said 'I testify' as regards both good and ill. The slave's walking behind his master is a testimony, 'I am subject to authority and this man is my lord.'
And Barks' version of the same passage,
On Resurrection Day your body testifies against you. Your hand says, 'I stole money.' Your lips, 'I said meanness.' Your feet, 'I went where I shouldn't.' Your genitals, 'Me Too.' They will make your praying sound hypocritical Let the body's doings speak openly now, without your saying a word, as a student's walking behind a teacher says, "This one knows more clearly than I the way.
Barks' translations have been criticised by many Persian scholars. Majid Naficy writes that Coleman Barks reduces Rumi's poetry to a New Age text:
Original poetry
Barks has published several volumes of his own poetry, including Gourd Seed, "Quickly Aging Here", Tentmaking, and, in 2001, Granddaughter Poems, a collection of Coleman's poetry about his granddaughter, Briny Barks, with illustrations by Briny. Harper published his first book of poetry, The Juice, in 1972.
Discography
Quotes
Iran is my first home-land. The only credential I have for working on Rumi's poetry is my meeting with , Bawa Muhaiyaddeen. That relationship is the only access I have to what is going on in Rumi's poetry.
