36.
yes, nizami
you are right
not everyone will understand the significance
of majnuun’s caravan of animals
so i will share the story you share
about that youth of marw
to aid the sight of those who have eyes to see
in the city-state of marw
there lived a king
who kept a kennel of...
let’s call them monster dogs
in addition to their huge muscular bodies
and heavy paws with claws
they had jaws lined with the sharpest teeth
and were powerful enough to decapitate
the head of a large beast with a single bite
although the king had a reputation of being civil
if irritated, he could suddenly fly into a fury
and in such temper,
sentence his annoyer to be fed to the dogs
which, once released from their cages,
would quickly devour whole human bodies
there was a youth of marw
who served in the court of the king
and had witnessed firsthand
the king’s unpredictable temperament
how servants,
draped in the king’s love in the morning,
could instantly be stripped naked
to become lunch for the monster dogs
there was no certain protection
from the king’s unforeseeable mood shifts
and servants more trusted than this youth
were illogically banished to death
yet once summoned to serve in the royal court
how could one escape or seek other employment
without risking the king’s rage
a rage that could easily deliver death
in the midst of contemplating this dilemma
a plan arose
the youth wandered, as if by chance, by the kennel
he made friendly acquaintance with the guards
who tended to the monster dogs
and used repeated visits thereafter
to earn their favor with gifts and kind words
eventually he earned enough trust
to be shown the monster dogs
who were otherwise kept from the eyes of others
with ensuing visits
he spoke to the mean, viscous beasts
as if they were his friends
and even brought them gifts
pieces of meat, doggie treats, and sometimes even
an entire lamb
he earned their smiles between their bloody bites
and procured their trust through kindness
such that he became endeared to them
able to stroke their heads and brush their coats
a familiarity denuded of danger
a familial connection realized
between human and beasts
the youth’s plan proved wise
as one day the unearned anger of the king
placed a target on his life
truth and good reason proved insufficient
to stay the unjust verdict
as the youth was bound by rope
to be dragged to the kennel
the king’s wrath made him impervious
to the excellence of the youth’s service and loyalty
any due appreciation was rejected and forgotten
in the king’s breaths of rage
yet when the captive youth
was placed before the hungry dogs
they did not forget the friendship he earned
instead of tearing him to pieces
they licked his face with the softness
of their tongues
and when urged to attack
they cuddled around him as if he was
one of their own
not even a whip could drive them to harm him
instead they bore bruises upon their backs
and when a cracking of the whip
landed too close to the youth’s face
they were ready to attack the guards
who forsook their friendship of the youth
the intended execution
became an exhibition of love
while the king, unaware of what was occurring,
became swelled with regret
when his anger eventually dissipated
with the setting of the sun
he sent one of his servants
to inquire about the youth
assuming him to be dead
the servant was to gather anything left of his body
for burial
but if by some miracle, the youth was still alive
the servant was to do his best
to preserve what was left of the youth’s life
when the servant arrived at the kennel
he could not believe his eyes
and ordered one of the guards
to return with him to inform the king
the servant did not wish to be the bearer of news
which might reignite the king’s wrath
and earn a sentence of being thrown before the dogs
standing before the king,
the guard offered his account
intentionally omitting any mention
of the youth’s previous visits with the dogs
instead he proclaimed the botched execution
to be a complete miracle
nothing less than the work of allaah
that the youth must be an angel
or a celestial being
there was no other explanation
for such grace
the king, in disbelief,
rushed to the kennel to see for himself
the bound youth being cuddled and kissed
by the monster dogs
he was brought to tears
and ordered the youth to be freed immediately
he then pleaded unendingly
for the youth’s forgiveness
many months had passed
before the king found himself in private audience
with the youth
and asked him to reveal the truth
of what happened on that day
the king had little belief in miracles
which became an increasingly agitating doubt
that only continued to grow
as a hidden disturbance for the king
the youth,
with perhaps a little too much arrogance
confessed his plan
he then chastised the king
for his impulsive moodiness
and in summation, asked,
“oh sovereign,
who has proven to be the better friend,
the king who discarded all my years of service
in one fit of rage
or a bunch of murderous beasts
who kissed me with their bloodthirsty fangs”
the king bit his tongue
to prevent the rising anger
and thanked the youth
for a humbling reminder long overdue
from that day forth
he never used the dogs to kill anyone again
instead he set to the constantly demanding task
of conquering the beast within
let those who have ears to hear
heed the significance reflected in this story
and if they are emboldened
may they follow majnuun like that first gazelle
who proved to be a faithful companion,
a true friend
beyond the end
❍ ● ❍