TEHRAN -- Renowned American poet Coleman Barks delivered a lecture at the Faculty of Literature and Humanities of Isfahan University on Sunday, the Persian service of CHN reported on Monday.

Americans are looking for a real human, and that person has been manifested in Rumi, he said.

He expressed satisfaction over the popularity of his books based on Rumi’s works in the United States.

The sense of humor in Rumi’s poetry inspires Americans, he added.

Barks also recited some of his own English translations of Rumi’s poetry and answered students’ question.

He has come to Iran in order to receive an honorary doctorate in Persian language and literature from the University of Tehran, which will be awarded to him in a special ceremony at the university on May 17.

The honorary doctorate will be presented to Barks for his years of efforts writing books on Molana Jalal al-Din Rumi and translating Rumi’s poetry.

Coleman Barks was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was educated at the University of North Carolina and the University of California at Berkeley. He has been teaching poetry and creative writing at the University of Georgia for thirty years.

He is the author of numerous Rumi translations and has been a student of Sufism since 1977.

“The Essential Rumi”, “The Drowned Book”, “Rumi: The Book of Love”, “The Soul of Rumi”, and “The Juice” are some of the books written or translated by Barks. Coleman Barks (R) and Robert Bly at Rumi’s tomb in Konya, Turkey