15.
the garden plays host to an intercourse of destinies
one’s pilgrimage of melancholy
can ignite an invitation to another’s
pursuit of desire
and so it transpired
that as layla cried the last of her tears
and lifted her veil to dry her eyes
her visage was sighted by him
more known by his nickname: bakht
which means “good fortune”
the son of a nobleman named salaam
the father and son sharing not only wealth
but also a good reputation
this young man of the clan of assad
had become a conqueror of social spoils
so when he could not forget the sight of her
on the many days’ travel back to his homeland
he cherished the intuition of that moment
when he sent his servant to follow her
back to her party
there, the servant inquired of her escorts
what is her name
what is her clan
is she with husband or child
if not, then who is her father
layla,
yes, the one the majnuun of the najd mountains
sings of
his compositions echoing even to bakht’s homeland
but what competition can a poor madman
pose to a renowned noble of acute social skill
so he set the pieces in play
the bounty of wealth partnered with
the bounty of crafty genteel
the genius of his plan leaving nothing to chance
even choosing the clothes of the courtier he sent
“on bended knee,
beg like a humble beggar on my behalf
then offer in sequence
these fine silken robes and scarves,
spun by the finest weavers
these gold necklaces
these bracelets of fine pearls
and these hand-carved jewelry boxes
to keep these newly given gifts
give the father this sword
with an ivory handle embroidered with gold
these fine prayer rugs
and lastly,
this qur’aan within this gold and jade case
present these gifts in the order i have shown you
to insure success”
the courtier rode off on a white horse
with royal escorts
arriving days later at the camp of layla’s clan
and like a beggar,
regarding himself unworthy to enter
the home of the one he came to petition
he requested layla’s father to please come
to just outside the camp
and came he did,
the entire clan assembled to give audience
layla remaining in the back, watching
from a distance
yet she turned away and left
when the courtier confessed
he came to request her hand on behalf of
bakht ibn salaam
gasps of awe and astonishment filled the air
was one of their clan about to ascend
to the heights of aristocracy
yet as her father watcher her disappear
within the collage of tents
he knew she would not consent
and why use his choice to place her in bondage
with time she would become receptive
to the inviting joys of marriage to a noble of good renown
yet the “oohs” and “aaws” of the crowd moved him
their reactions as each gift was presented
so he accepted the gifts,
a sign of approval
but delayed the finality of a sealing promise
by urging patience
“i know my daughter is a treasure
worthy of many a man’s desire
yet she is new to the season of spring
she is maturing into
like the first blooms
she is delicate to the waning frost
the impressions of winter not yet melting away
give this season time to abide in its own strength
and the cold of winter’s reserve to thaw
into a welcoming warmth
then there will be no points for refusal
bid ibn salaam to afford us patience
i am confident the desired day of matrimony
will arrive soon enough
“therefore, i’ll hold these gifts in trust
until the day it is appropriate to yield my consent
inshallaah”
although ibn salaam
did not foresee anything less
than being summoned to layla’s camp
to receive her hand
he yielded to forbearance
the acceptance of the gifts
virtually betrothed her to him
and if there was somehow a change of heart
he could play these pieces in pursuit of victory
so he waited
learning to be content
with the fading visions of her beauty
he sought to retain within his memories
❍ ● ❍