37.
when the soil of the earth
and its expanse
continually deny fulfillment
lovers throughout the ages
have looked to the heavens for hope
although the empty-handed sky
rarely delivers fulfillment
it refrains from preventing lovers
from projecting their hopes
upon the celestial symbols
that paint the sky
many were the night prayers
majnuun sung to the moon
whether full
or shrouded in its shadowed veils
he sung spontaneous lullabies to all the planets
petitioning them to draw to sleep
all the earthly forces and obstacles
that kept him from being with layla
the stars were too countless
for him to keep a good account
of how many he recited odes and psalms to
and when the night clouds
covered the speckled blanket of lights
he offered his petitions to the deep darkness
“layla is the darkest of the midnight dark
for if just a glimpse of her light escaped
the entire universe it would illuminate
with a brilliance that blinds all sight”
yet two of the distant orbs
received the lion’s share of his pleas
whether due to the folklore traditions
or a crazed lover’s superstition
“oh mother venus,
again sight of thy glorious sparkle i catch
a candle upon the hill
for lovers drowning in valleys of despair
even thy distance is intimacy
because of the purity of thy sympathy
a kiss thy twinkle is
that sustains my challenged ambitions
although this war wages on
between passion and despondency
thine intercession is always peace
for who better than thou
knows the travails of lovers’ confessions
and how our pains to alleviate
even if still our sought treasure we are denied
“oh resplendent jupiter,
the trusted friend of all sovereigns,
earthly and beyond
all prosperity and grace
which manifest in this universe
first through thy storehouse flow
to be delivered through thy gates
such is the greatest of all thy powers
and invites the paucity of my prayers
“oh great jupiter,
how much longer must this pauper lover
hold the begging bowl to plead for thy grace
how many more moans must be the bread
to sate my love’s starvation
how many more tears must i drink
to quench a thirst still not satisfied
with thou layeth the prosperity of fulfillment
deny me no more, o wealthy one
if thou art true, as i trust thou to be
please reward my lover’s faith
for the stories of old say
thou never break a promise proclaimed
and among these promises, they say
is the one to deliver
to the beggars of love
love’s charity
mine empty hand awaits benefaction”
❍ ● ❍