29.
night fell yet again
and he welcomed it
for layla is the night
as the stars shared their dimmed light
under the moonless sky
he roamed the desolate sands
searching for any sign of her love for him
within the shade of that which shared her name
why would such be found in this deserted desert
logic could offer no reason why
but he was not being moved by logic
no, love compelled his motion
and as love led his weary body
it eventually provoked words
to emit from his mouth
it is love that brings me to ruin
and yet smile i,
welcoming such annihilation
let not remain a speck of me
unless it worships thee
and even this blasphemy
is not enough
for i am naught,
thou art the only significance
and how can what is naught
honor the only importance:
only by being nothing
so my non-existence
not distract from thee
reduce me to less than
the shadow of a grain of sand
that only the night may reign
what is my breath
it is the movement of thy name
upon my tongue
and accompanying praise
what is my sight
the visage of thee within my mind
a light reflecting
eternally
what is mine hearing
the quietude that reveals that subtle sound
by which the entire universe
chants only thy name
what is my taste
the ambrosia of thine exhaled breaths
which the winds bring trace of
for me to savor
what is my sense of smell
the sweetest fragrance
of the sweetest roses
which only imitate the scent of thee
what is my touch
oh, i cannot say
perhaps to this i shall return
what is my memory
the stilling beating of mine heart
meditating
only on thee
what is the sun
its disappearance and departed light
that the night may reveal
itself again
what is my touch
oh, again i cannot say
for i have yet to experience
thine embrace
when the sun departs,
the earth cries its night dew
when the sun returns,
the earth yields to the light those tears
unending tears have i cried
the pangs of separation bearing
may i be granted the joy of yielding these tears
to the grace of our union
❍ ● ❍