16.
in complete desperation the deer fled
from the jovial pursuit of the hunters
the cunning swiftness of the deer
could not elude the agility of the horses
after all,
they were trained for the fiercest of battles
having survived many tastes of war
to relish the savor of victory
to them, this chase was a pleasant game
this pursuit of unarmed deer was easy prey
for nawfal, the “destroyer of armies”
an adventurous ride through hard terrain
and twisting turns
until the deer took refuge in a cave
the entrance was too short for the horses to enter
so nawfal and his men dismounted
with bows readied
yet he paused
as in the receding dark of the cave
he saw the deer huddled by a...
what kind of being is this
some type of limb scathed with scars
another too lean to be human
yet the draping matted hair
resembled no animal he knew of
as he got closer
there was what resembled a face
the sunken cheeks stained by fresh tears
and the whispering whimpers
of what sounded like a human cry
was it a human
or a rare breed of animal
or a demon cursed to show its form to this world
or one of the jinn whose fire was now
burning to extinguishment
whatever it was
it moved the ravager of armies to compassion
for here this being was,
immersed in its own suffering
yet with a slow stroking hand
it was attempting to console the frightened deer
taking refuge by its afflicted body
“can anyone identify this thing
the deer are huddled by”
one of the fellow hunters replied
“my guess would be
it is the majnuun,
the madman of these mountains
he has forsaken the world of humans
consumed by love for a woman named layla
lovers and fanciers of verse
make these mountains a pilgrimage
in hope of hearing the poems he composes
for his love
if you bring him anything that reminds him of her
he utters extemporaneous verse
some which i have heard recounted by others
some of the most beautiful compositions
i have ever heard
and i don’t even like poetry”
“do you remember any”
“not the words, but the feeling:
enough to make the most cold-hearted warrior
swoon”
“i remember one,”
chimed in another man
“it’s like an elixir for my wife’s passion”
“i thought we were hunting deer,
i’m hungry”
“we are now hunting to sate my curiosity
then i will feed your belly
say the poem”
“it goes
‘when all is love, what is madness
but a rose smoldering in its own bloom
this life is but a half-existing dream
which veils from me the all reality of thee
not less than all of thine existence will i accept
the shifting absence of the sun is not enough
if i am to truly live, i must have all of the night,
all of layla...’”
the creature whispered from the cave
in a clarity of declaration
those last precious words
“all of layla”
“but i don’t say ‘layla,’ i say my wife’s name...”
“silence!
i think it spoke”
nawfal approached closer
all the deer fled further inside the cave
except one remaining with its head
upon the creature’s lap
“say it again”
there was no response
“say it:
‘if i am to truly love
i must have all...’”
“all of the night, all of layla”
it spoke again
“layla”
“do you love this layla”
“laaaay-laa”
even nawfal could feel the creature’s adoration
something sweet and deeply sincere
that survived the extreme abuse endured
the ferocious lion that lived to ravage armies
was made as feeble as the docile deer
huddled on the creature’s lap
yet the range of this warrior’s empathy
extended further in the human realm
the romantic in him was touched
and did not hesitate to make this offer
“i am a man of great influence
able to seize what is not given or negotiated
and your words and circumstance
have moved me to great sympathy
therefore, i would consider it an honor
to help you achieve your heart’s desire”
although presented as an offer
it was actually a command
for nawfal had already decided
that he was gong to help this being
attain layla
* * *
the hunt abandoned, a feast was prepared
a tent raised not too far from the cave
fine food prepared by a cook, artfully displayed
on a table
as if to entertain great and noble guests
majnuun was retrieved from the cave
donned in a perfumed robe
and placed in the seat of honor
across from nawfal
yet
despite the stirring aroma of the food
and the visual allure that titillates the eyes
and teases the mouth
despite the festive merriment and camaraderie
the boisterous laughter of warriors stuffing
their bellies
majnuun only receded further into his own solitude
unmoved by what was happening around him
this disturbed nawfal
because unspoken in his intention to aid
was a wish to nurse majnuun’s sadness
to a more palatable pleasantness
so it slipped out
“tell me about this layla”
silence
all watched
as a crack appeared
in his melancholic facade
then a voice
slightly more than a murmur
“layla is all”
encouraged, nawfal began to praise her
with general characteristics men adore women for
“i hear she has the most lovely eyes”
the bait was laid
but was it enough to draw him forth
majnuun’s devotion to his beloved
would not allow her beauty
to be reduced to generalities
her uniqueness had to be defended
“no, her eyes are as moon beams
tickled by perfect spheres of glowing amber”
with that
the crack in the facade became bigger
large enough to slip through
a small bite of food
“is her voice sweet”
“oh, the song of songs
it makes the psalms of dawuud, alayhi salaam, cry”
“what about her hands”
“ohh, the kisses of flower petals seek to imitate
that grace i have yet to embrace
yet i know,
within the softness of her gentle fingertips
is a strength that melts even raging behemoths”
nawful and his men were amazed
as majnuun continued to utter poetic replies
in between bites of food
and sips of drink
“what about her lips”
“ahh, the honey of wild roses baked by
untouched sunlight
one taste
and sugar will forever taste sour”
“how about her hips”
“you can balance gravity
by the grace of her walk
and the roundness of the moon
by their dancing sway”
“but all of that
is little without fine character,
does layla have that”
“now you have left me speechless
certain wonders has allaah created
that are beyond the reach of words
the beauty of layla’s nature
can only be known
by surrendering to be slain
by layla”
nawfal then stood and proclaimed
“my friend,
such genius should not burn itself to embers
with the austerities by which you smite yourself
deny us not the wonder of your gifts
let the world have a greater share
“what would you say
if i pledged
to unite you with your layla
housing your love in a temple of holy matrimony
i have plundered whole kingdoms
for far more selfish pursuits
but this i will do as charity
to serve the justice of love”
majnuun was so overcome by hope
and exhilaration
he rushed to prostrate himself at nawfal’s feet
but then skepticism seized him
to raise his back and give voice to concerns
“my heart is intrigued, my soul inspired
but how can i know your words
to be more than just words
my refuge of the mountains is not happenstance
her family will never consent
to marry her to a majnuun
they will never place a delicate flower
in the care of a raging tempest
this has been proven by the great efforts of others
to secure what you now promise
“for you to fulfill your oath
would be a very rare marvel
the hunt seems inviting
but when the prey continues to escape,
even the clutches of an inescapable fate
will you too abandon the endeavor
if so,
i am content with the mountains
being my only friend”
there was a silence
until nawfal stood and unsheathed his sword
kneeled by majnuun
and stuck the blade in the ground
his hand upon the handle,
he placed majnuun’s hand upon his
to profess
“in the name of allaah, the all-powerful
i vow my living life until death
to lay waste all enemies and obstacles
that impede your union with layla
“i will deny myself food, rest,
all luxuries and comforts
until this vow has been fulfilled
but two things you must do for me
which are essential for success
first,
you must take care of your body
how can you even be able to truly love your beloved
if you’re a bag of bones on the verge of death
second,
your madness you must contain and tame
for how can nawful the great
deliver a precious treasure
to a madman
“do you agree”
majnuun nodded his head affirmatively
then they all began to eat and drink
until the fatigue of jolly
rendered them to sleep
* * *
the days quickly became months
as nawfal shared the pleasures of wealth
with majnuun
this became the landscape of his refinement
the veiling scars of his madness fell away
a resemblance of the boy named qays
began to emerge in adult form
none appreciated his return to civility
more than nawfal
he was completely amazed
by the person of majnuun
he adorned the young man’s radiance and charm
with the finest of attire
the fruits of this harvest were quickly meeded
with the endless poems he would recite
the insights he shared
majnuun became a wondrous spark of light
to the drone of the warrior’s life
even for qays,
this world became a happy place again
he had become a favored prince to nawfal
who would not let qays be gone from his company
for more than a waking hour
but what happiness can last forever unperturbed
especially when the grains of its soil
have been fettered by a lover’s discontent
fertilized by promises made but not yet kept
the madness was tamed for now
but began to boil underneath the surface...
❍ ● ❍