Maria Tanner Cohen

Poem of the Atoms by the 13th century Persian theologian and Sufi scholar Rumi describes all atoms in the universe in an ecstatic dance of love. My painting Dance of the Veils is in so many ways inspired by its words.

O day, arise!
The atoms are dancing.
The souls are dancing, overcome with ecstasy.
I'll whisper in your ear where their dance is taking them.
All the atoms in the air and in the desert know well, they seem insane.
Every single atom, happy or miserable, Becomes enamored of the sun, of which nothing can be said.

                                                                                                                                                                      Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī