My Soul Is From Elsewhere

A series of time-lapses photographed on a 3-day visit to Istanbul in October 2015.

The featured monuments are the Hagia Sophia and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (popularly known as the Blue Mosque). All of these sequences were taken from our room at Hotel Arcadia Blue in the Old City.

The words are from "The Tavern", a poem by Jalaluddin Rumi

No copyright infringements intended.
I do not own either the music or the narration and have just used them as accompaniments with my time-lapse.

***

THE TAVERN
by Jalaluddin Rumi

All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
And I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
But who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

This poetry. I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it, I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

We have a huge barrel of wine, but no cups.
That's fine with us. Every morning
We glow and in the evening we glow again.

They say there's no future for us. They're right.
Which is fine with us.

[juttavanmal]

Dear Vishi Singh, after Nainital this is such a wonderful visual prayer carpet you have realized with all your refined understanding after you have given us The refuge of my heart as one of the most beautiful testimonies of the Eye of the Goddess Nainital. Truly your way of producing videos is just like the eye of the Goddess in action now, my Dear! Thank you so very much! yes Hagya Sofia. The high abode of any Sultan or man's vision and hope! I love you more than you can imagine for your great work. You inspire me too for more!

[Echiya]

I have sent this to so whenever I despair >> THIS. Best voice over and music combo ever. Bless you.

[Echiya]

This is my fave video on all of you tube I come here like once a week.

[juttavanmal]

Thank you my Dearm it is so wonderful! It is as much beautiful as The refuge of my heart an Ode to Nainital by your art! Two of my most favourite videos ! My Dear G(O)D Bless! ALWAYS!

[ganga]

Amazing video Vishi, it is very mesmerizing. The narration is amazing and beautifully synced with the time-lapse.

[rohanbhattnainital]

A perfect sync of words with photography. Great fan of your work, especially, "The refuge of my Heart."

[AdarshKP]

Come to watch ... this after sasi tharoors tweet....kudos...🤩🔥🔥❤️