38.
to the celestial audience and his company of beasts
majnuun cried these prayers
but the starry hosts only returned the blank stares
of their distant lights
and the animals,
gazes bewildered by his ecstasy
in the midst of this silence
a realization resurfaced to his memory
one he already knew but forgot
in the stirrings of his passion
the heavens could hear his pleas
but not fulfill them
the extent of their compassion was to listen
not shift or change the tides of fate
this realization beget a greater remembrance
of something greater and mightier
for all creation, if not accommodating his will,
was bound to abide by the will of the creator
so he turned his hopes to that heaven of the heavens
dwelling beyond the indecipherable heights
the most merciful who has already assured
that all of creation will always be heard by it
“iyyaaka na’budu wa’iyyaaka nasta’iin
you alone do we worship,
you alone do we ask for help
yet in my foolish fervor
i make entreaties to venus and jupiter
that i should only make to you
blame and forgive my lover’s insanity
which ignores all logic
in perturbed desperation
“kun fayakuun
if you say “be” then it is
if you decree it to be
nothing can stop it from being
even the entire universe united
in resisting against it
will prove powerless
but if you will for it not to be
even if all the universe sought to manifest it
there is nothing that can make it be
absolutely nothing
“nothing can disobey or overcome your will
and nothing can compel it
even my misguided prayers
must be a function of your will
a will that allows my zeal to go astray
perhaps to arrive here
where i turn only to you
to beg for that which only you can provide
i am a fool who suffers for a treasure beyond
my reach
yet that has become the sole focus of my sight”
in that moment,
the ground shook violently
yet none of the animals fled
neither did the heavenly orbs flicker
as a sprout emerged from a crack
rising to evolve into a full grown tree
huge with branches and leaves
and fruit already ripe
the green heights extended high into the heavens
and atop it sat a bird, scarlet red
it gave forth a call
as what seemed like a star fell from its beak
with burning speed it descended
to fall upon the lover’s head
planting perfectly between his eyes
upon impact
a blinding light emitted
so bright, all of creation disappeared
in the blindness, he blinked his eyes
to awaken to the deep dark of night
the haze of slumber dissipating
he sat up
to see all his companions were asleep
except for the panther keeping watch
something was now different
even if the circumstances
appeared to be the same
yes, something different
although there was a partial curiosity
wishing to know what changed
a greater appreciation was content
to live this new adjustment as a mystery
yet there seemed to be something
within the amber-gold eyes of the panther
that knew what the enigma was
knowing this,
the panther vowed to protect it
and the one on whom it was bestowed
❍ ● ❍