This years marks the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Persian poet Rumi. He was born in what is now Afghanistan.

And Rumi's poetry still sells, even after all these years. Many contemporary poets call him a bridge between East and West. That includes American poet Coleman Barks.

His new book of translated poems by Rumi is called "Rumi: Bridge to the Soul: Journeys into the Music and Silence of the Heart."

Here he is reading his translation of Rumi's "Music and Silence." This music is by two other men Rumi has inspired.

One is Iranian composer Hafez Nazeri. The other -- the singer -- is his father -- Shahram.

Their CD is called "The Passion of Rumi."

Both translator Coleman Barks and composer Hafez Nazeri say Rumi's poetry strikes deeply and globally.

BARKS: "I think he is probably the closest thing we have to being a planetary poet like Shakespeare. He is a poet for all cultures and all religions. He is thought of as the greatest mystical poet."

NAZERI: "Absolutely, I personally grew up with Rumi's poems. I memorized thousands of Rumi's poems everyday. He's still alive for me."