In Praise of Rumi is a valiant attempt at modern poetry infused with the spirit of Rumi - especially Rumi's use of "tavern", "intoxication" and "separation from the Beloved". However, some of the poems seem contrived; some seem muddled in a "sufified" Christianity; some seem didactic. Unfortunately not one of the three descriptions mentioned above is particularly appealing to me. On the other hand, I do believe that Christian poetry needs a poetry of ecstasy - a Rumi, a Mirabai, a Lalla - and hence I appreciate the intent of this volume.