How a twelfth-century Sufi epic guides the soul through seven transformative valleys of meaning.
In short: Poet Sholeh Wolpé explores the enduring wisdom of Attar’s classic poem, The Conference of the Birds. This video highlights how Wolpé’s translation and musical performance, The Seven Valleys, bridge ancient spiritual narratives with contemporary audiences, offering a fresh lens on the search for divine truth.
Attar’s twelfth-century epic remains a foundational work of Sufi literature, mapping a metaphorical journey toward enlightenment. Through her work, Sholeh Wolpé reimagines this narrative, transforming the text into both a written translation and a musical performance titled The Seven Valleys.
This exploration is part of The Met’s Spotlight series, which invites experts to examine individual pieces from the museum's collection. By integrating personal experience and artistic expertise, the series demonstrates how historical works continue to shape modern dialogue and understanding.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Long Journey Home | Attar’s “The Conference of the Birds” | Spotlight
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