17.
nawfal was all smiles
as he sat upon his throne
enjoying the company of some of his men
yet his delight instantly surged
when qays walked in the room
embodying the nobility of a prince
whose future reign was destined to bless the world
qays returned nawfal’s smile
with a smile of his own
“i see you received a shave today
you look exquisite”
“it is all by your grace”
“then perhaps you will reciprocate my generosity
with another poem
it brings me and my men such joy”
“do not all men live for joy”
nawfal and his men were jubilant with anticipation
but qays’ smile became a look of despised madness
before anyone could intercede
the torrent of his words were already let forth
although bruising, they were still alluring
leaving the spectators hurt yet amazed
“the torments of my patience torture you not
the chasm of my separation from my beloved, you ignore
you bask in the perceived treasures of my company
while every single promise you made to me
has proven empty,
not a hint of fulfillment
all your assurances of keeping your word:
blasphemous hypocrisy
i kept my part
i became a gentleman refined
yet the treasure of the night you swore to deliver me
remains denied
so now justified rage
fuels the throes of my passion
if sanity will only be betrayed
let madness reign”
nawfal could not refute the validity of these words
his head lowered in shame
touched by a sadness for what was now obvious
the prince he discovered within a cocoon of madness
could no longer be kept in his playground
he would either be a lover united with his beloved
or a raving majnuun wandering the mountains
these alone were the only choices of fate
for the prince before him
any lingering doubts about this
were destroyed by what majnuun said next
“when you pledged your vow
there was no delay in your speech
why now do you stutter in silence
have you expended all your bandages
for my bleeding soul
a gash that ceases not to let forth blood
now my patience revolts,
demanding fulfillment or death
i will be in the company of true friends
even if they be hard rocks
and coarse grains of sand
they accept the honesty of my tears
unlike a ruler of men
who tries to appease me with lies
to sate his desire for his own personal satisfaction
“i die to your social charades
i break the facade of this painted face
i will not hide how i drown
in the blood of my soul
while you fancy my words
no more!
this moon has completely waned
bring me layla now
or you have evicted me
back to the desert of madness”
the majnuun encased in the prince’s clothing
could bear this imprisonment no more
screaming aloud in complete reckless abandon
he tore his shirt and fell to his knees
nawfal could not bear
the visual loss of his prince
and stood to scream
“cease!”
it was as if the whole world became quiet
even majnuun froze in the midst of tearing
another rip in his shirt
in that silence
the remorse and sadness in nawfal
increased a thousandfold
he knew no words could appease this plea
that there could be no further delay
if he was to keep his promise
so the simple instruction was given
“have the men prepare for battle”
❍ ● ❍