54.
so ends the tale of layla and majnuun
but does any story of true love
really have an end
the confines of earth shatter
to become less than dust
when exposed to the light of eternity
which paints the breath of paradise
and that is where some of the legends say
they lived their union
complete oneness in peace
but who has the language
to describe such a scene
and all the blissful affairs that unfold there
this student of nizami
certainly has not the words
nor the wish
to approach such a task
love
is for the genuine
but how many of us live genuine lives
or should i say, how few of us
we scar the possibilities of being real
with the entrappings of the ego’s whims
and what is scarred cannot be authentic
nor can a vessel not whole
contain the flowing of love
the one who pours the nectar
will not tip the pitcher
for it to be spilled
or sullied in what is dirty
love
cannot be imitated
only those who sacrifice their self
to be love’s vessel
will have the truth of love pour through them
shed the self so you may realize
who you truly are
and love will reveal itself
to who you truly are
“i” cannot love
but that which is beyond the “i”
is none but love
there is no separation in oneness
be that
even if the worldly displays of oneness
play out as suffering, separation,
or even madness
much of what humanity thinks to be true
will be shown to be complete madness
and some of what is deemed madness
by humanity
will be shown to be the pith of wisdom
the prophet muhummad,
sallallaahu alayhi wa salaam,
when asked about
what lays beyond the final hour
he said,
“you will be those whom you love”
this is more than a comforting assurance
what this world, in its ignorance, denies
will not be forever barred
or persecuted
perhaps this world is not pure enough
to bear the presence of the union of true love
or perhaps,
it is us humans who lack such purity
whatever the case
true lovers will abide in oneness
the blessings of such destiny will prevail
so be not troubled
if this finite world foolishly opposes
what eternity will grant
but enough with these ramblings
let what has been said be enough
to give a sense of layla and majnuun’s fate
beyond this world
love’s eventual promise will flourish
for those who give all
to love
not “love” as we would have ourselves “love”
rather love as love would have us love
there is no other way than genuine surrender
even if such entails suffering in this world
or a descent into the mind losing its grip
of a perceived reality
that the skewed judgments of humanity
deem to be
madness
there is no greater honor upon this earth
than to live and die as a vessel of love...
❍ ● ❍