23.
the moon stole away with the night
leaving the day to the blazing heat of the sun
majnuun awakened to continue his journey
his drowning descent into the ocean of the desert
the sun proved not to be as good a companion
as the moon
its scorching radiance offered a brutal empathy
which left majnuun parched and delirious
mumbling incoherent lines of verse
to the light winds passing him by
yet he moved on
until, in the cooling dusk,
he came upon another desperate man
who, having captured a stag,
was about to spill its blood
madness was moved to mercy once again
majnuun charged forth yelling
“what bully of a man murders the innocent
what crime did he commit against you
that you would make his mate a widow,
his children bastards
left to mourn in agony
until death reunites them in a better world,
one without murderers
has your life succumbed to such cruelty”
“if you wish to save his life
purchase him for what i would gain at market”
empty-handed
majnuun removed the sheath and sword
from around his waist
a silver ring from his sweaty left hand
and the last remaining necklace
the desert had not yet stolen from his neck
he threw these at the feet of the man
and asked
“is this enough”
the man grabbed the items and ran off
leaving the stag tangled in ropes
majnuun kneeled beside the frightened creature
caressing its head with a gentle touch
“is there only kindness among
those bearing separation from their beloved
has pain become the precursor to compassion,
intense loss a harbinger to consideration”
loosening the ropes, he continued,
“flee, my friend
and if fate grants you the boon
of being with your beloved
treasure her with unyielding appreciation
may the sighs of your reunion
be paid for by the tears of my loneliness
may you bask in love
protected by the merits of my suffering”
with that,
the stag sprinted into the distance
without looking back
majnuun remained on his knees
holding the rope, staring at the sky
bearing witness as the hues of dusk
melted into the black-blue tarp of night
an endless face
freckled with dots of illumination
scattered in sporadic formations
❍ ● ❍