It then analyses the formative period of Rumi's life and his change from the writing of prose to mystical poetry in middle age.

    Each time, before writing, I took my son's toy soldiers out of their box and I looked at them, with their lively colours and their innocence, for inspiration. In my state of mind, you would think this story of Vasco, inspired by toys, should end well. Not at all! my son's little toy soldiers would kill Vasco.Georges Schehadé .