The Guest House Poem by Rumi: Meaning, Summary, and Analysis

The Guest House poem by Rumi is one of the most beloved works of the 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. Through simple yet profound imagery, this mystical poem invites readers to see their emotions as visitors entering a guest house.

Whether joyful or painful, Rumi teaches that every emotion deserves to be welcomed with respect. The poem encourages openness, kindness, and awareness of the lessons hidden in every human experience.

Guest House Poem by Rumi

Translated by Coleman Barks

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

— Jalal ad-Din Rumi
From Rumi: Selected Poems, translated by Coleman Barks

The Guest House Poem Summary

In The Guest House, Rumi compares the human mind and soul to a house that receives new visitors every day. These visitors represent emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, or confusion. Like unexpected guests, emotions arrive without warning.

Instead of resisting difficult emotions, Rumi urges us to welcome them. Even painful feelings may arrive to remove what no longer serves us, making space for growth, healing, and deeper awareness.

At its core, The Guest House teaches that every experience—pleasant or painful—has meaning. Accepting emotions with patience and compassion allows us to grow wiser and more resilient.

The Guest House Poem Analysis

One of the central themes of The Guest House is acceptance. Rooted in Sufi philosophy, the poem reflects the belief that everything we experience carries divine wisdom.

When Rumi describes emotions as “unexpected visitors,” he highlights life’s unpredictability. We cannot control which emotions arrive, but we can choose how we respond to them. Treating emotions like honored guests teaches emotional maturity and inner balance.

Rumi’s view of negative emotions is especially powerful. Rather than seeing sorrow or fear as obstacles, he presents them as teachers. When he writes that sorrow may “clear you out for some new delight,” he suggests that pain can prepare the soul for transformation.

Ultimately, The Guest House is also a poem about gratitude. Welcoming every experience—no matter how uncomfortable—helps us appreciate life’s depth and complexity. Each emotion plays a role in shaping who we become.

Interested in exploring more of Rumi’s work? Discover 20 Famous Rumi Poems curated by Danaa School.

Danaa School’s Persian Poetry Course

If you want to explore Persian poetry more deeply, Danaa School offers a dedicated Persian Poetry Course featuring Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, and other great poets.

The course is designed for learners of all levels, including those who do not speak Persian fluently. Students explore poetic meaning, historical context, and cultural significance through guided lessons and expert instruction.

Find your Persian poetry teacher at Danaa School and experience the wisdom of classical Persian literature.