Poetic point

Blessed with a sonorous voice, brooding looks and a name so spiritual, Kabir Bedi seems like quite a poet at heart.

The actor, who recently launched his mother's book on Indian nursery rhymes, Rhymes for Ranga, presents a five-part recital of popular Persian poet Mevlana Rumi in English today at NCPA. Kabir talks to CS about all the things he finds poetry in:

In the mystical world
I find poetry in everything that's beautifulu00a0-- It can be a beautifully designed glass or cutlery.

And that is what I like about Rumi's work. His poems are very evocative. Sufi tradition is a mystic tradition where the God and beloved are interchangeable.

I discovered Rumi late in life, but I'm glad I did. It is he and others like Saint Kabir, Guru Nanak who are the real mavericks, as for them spirituality has always been experiential.

In fact, unknown to many, Rumi has a massive fan base in Los Angeles and Mississippi, because his work is so universal.

Word's worth
A person becomes aware of poetry at the school level and those who appreciate the beauty of it carry the love further.

I love poetry because it has an economy of words, which is extremely attractive. It is amazing to see how little words have the power to form images in one's mind or elicit responses.

I derive great joy in reading Wordsworth, Rainer Maria Rilke and Dylan Thomas. But I don't have favouritesu00a0-- I choose poetry over personality.