Inspirational Quote: “Oh, bird of my soul, fly away now, for I possess a hundred fortified towers.” attributed to Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, or simply Rumi, was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi faqih, Islamic scholar, Maturidi theologian, and Sufi mystic born during the Khwarazmian Empire.
Deeper Meaning of Inspirational Quote
The quote, “Oh, bird of my soul, fly away now, for I possess a hundred fortified towers.” speaks in the language of the mystic—the voice of someone who has reached a deep understanding of the inner self and the divine.
Here’s a breakdown of the quote:
- “bird of my soul” is the spirit—the truest, most essential part of the self, delicate and eternal, longing for freedom. In many mystical traditions, the soul is imagined as a bird trapped in the cage of the body, always yearning to return to its origin—God, truth, the infinite.
- “fly away now” it is not with sorrow but with serenity. It is an invitation, a release. The soul is no longer bound by fear, desire, or confusion. It is free to go, because the speaker has found peace within.
- “for I possess a hundred fortified towers” is powerful. These towers represent strength, wisdom, and inner sovereignty. The speaker is not empty without the soul’s longing—they are full. They have built within themselves strongholds of understanding, perhaps even stations of enlightenment or mystical insight. They no longer fear separation or loss, because they are fortified from within.
In essence, the quote reflects a moment of spiritual mastery—a place where love, longing, and release coexist in perfect balance. The speaker has come to a place where they can let go of even the soul’s deepest desires, because they have already arrived.
Here’s a story inspired by inspirational Quote “Oh, bird of my soul, fly away now, for I possess a hundred fortified towers.”
Inspirational Story: “Oh, Bird of My Soul”
The Lonely Prince at Sunset:
The wind blew cold across the marble balcony as the last ray of sun kissed the horizon. Prince Darian stood still, his hands clasped behind his back, watching the distant desert shimmer under the dying light. For years, he had chased power, built fortresses, and conquered lands. His empire stretched beyond what his ancestors had imagined, and yet, an odd hollowness echoed in the chambers of his heart.
Inside the palace, torches flickered against stone walls. Attendants waited silently, fearing to disturb his quietude. They knew he was not to be approached at sunset—not since the day he returned from the Eastern war and banished music, laughter, and mirrors from the palace. Something had shifted in him that day. Something deep.
But tonight, Darian had called no one. He had written no orders. He had sent away his guards.
Instead, he whispered to the dusk.
“Oh, bird of my soul,” he said, the words soft and uncertain, “fly away now, for I possess a hundred fortified towers.”
And with that, he turned and walked inside.
Winter with Laleh in the Mountains:
Years ago, before the towers, before the bloodshed, before he was known as The Iron King, Darian had wandered the world as a student of mystics. In the mountains of Samara, he met a woman called Laleh—no title, no kingdom, just a weaver of words and dreams. She spoke little, but when she did, her voice shimmered like silver. She told him once, “The soul is a bird. You do not own it, but you must listen when it sings.”
At the time, Darian laughed. He was young, full of questions, ambition, and the arrogance of a prince who believed love was a thing to be taken, like cities.
Nevertheless, he stayed with her through a winter of silence and snowfall. She taught him not through sermons, but through stillness. They shared bread, silence, and stargazing. And slowly, something in him softened.
Yet, when the spring came and his father called him home, Darian left without farewell. He told himself he would return—but he never did.
Darian Building Empire:
In the years that followed, Darian built his empire. He forged alliances, led battles, and raised a hundred towers—each stronger than the last. From atop them, he watched storms pass, enemies fall, and people kneel.
But sometimes, in dreams, he saw Laleh’s eyes—not angry, not sad, just still. And in the silence of those nights, the bird of his soul would stir restlessly in its golden cage.
Tonight, Darian moved through the palace alone. He passed statues of war heroes, tapestries of conquest, and doors he hadn’t opened in years. The walls seemed to close in tighter than before. Despite all he had built, he felt… bare.
Then, reaching a forgotten chamber, he stopped.
The Hall of Mirrors and the Whisper:
Inside, dust cloaked the floor like snow. In the center stood a single object: an old, cracked mirror.
He stepped toward it.
For a long moment, he simply looked. The face that stared back was not the face of a young prince, nor the proud warrior he once had been. It was older, lined, wiser perhaps—but heavy with unspoken words.
The Soul-Bird Ascends:
Then, gently, he whispered again, “Bird of my soul… fly away now.”
As if on cue, the wind rose. Somewhere in the distance, a window creaked open. The air stirred, and in it, Darian heard something that hadn’t visited him in decades—a whisper of laughter, a breeze scented with pomegranate and cedar.
A sudden calm washed over him. Not the calm of certainty, but of release.
He had spent his life trying to hold on—hold on to power, to loyalty, to memories. But now, he realized the truth Laleh had known all along:
The soul does not belong to us. It is only with us for a while.
And now, it was time to let it go.
Darian on the Tower, Under the Stars:
Darian climbed the tallest of his hundred towers that night. Alone, cloaked in starlight, he looked out at the empire he had created. The towers were real, strong, and unshakable—but they no longer defined him.
He was ready. He closed his eyes and felt the bird lift from his chest—softly, silently. It rose, circled once, and then vanished into the stars.
He did not weep. Instead, he smiled.
Feather on the Ledge & Laleh’s Smile :
In the morning, the guards found the tower empty. Only a feather rested on the stone ledge, glowing faintly with a light that was not of this world.
And far away, in a quiet village nestled between mountains and sky, an old woman stirred from her sleep. She stepped outside, looked to the east, and smiled at the morning sun.
“Welcome home,” Laleh whispered to the wind.
Here is the ending of inspirational story from the quote “Oh, bird of my soul, fly away now, for I possess a hundred fortified towers.”
Moral of the Story:
The story teaches that true strength comes not from what we possess or build in the outer world, but from our ability to let go and find peace within.
Despite power, wealth, or even a legacy of achievements (“a hundred fortified towers”), the soul cannot be caged or controlled. We must learn to listen to it, honor it, and eventually set it free—because spiritual freedom and inner peace are more lasting than any earthly conquest.
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