Even sand has been satiated by water,
but water cannot satiate me.
There is no bowstring
which deserves my heavy, valuable bow. Continue reading “What Kind of Alligator am I? (12/3/2023)”
What Kind of Alligator am I? (12/3/2023)
Category: Gazel (longer poem)
Out of His Mind (11/19/2023)
O frowning Friend,
How much are You asking for vinegar?
You sell it as sugar when you trade with a sugar-lipped one.
You take sugar in exchange for your vinegar. Continue reading “Out of His Mind (11/19/2023)”
You are an Endless Treasure (11/5/2023)
I wonder if your eyes are sleepy or evasive.
No, I swear, you are trying to deceive God.
You close your eyes like a merchant
who reaches his gold once he falls asleep.
You have extended a chain, setting up endless traps.
You tightly restrain some, while you loosen the bondage of others.
As a good deed, you kill your innocent lovers
and pray in front of your martyrs’ graves.
Sometimes, like a cupbearer, you take the mind away from the head.
Sometimes, like a musician, you fill that head with melodies.
You play the ney of separation.
You play Iraq’s ney, making Buselik similar to Hicaz.*
You make the hearts and souls of poor ones
and the wounded hearts of captive ones
treasures of supplication
just with the alms of your beauty.
You tear the curtain of the firmament.
You are coy with the coyness of the Sultan.
You live with the great splendor of Eyaz,,**
stealing the crowns of sultans.
You are my love.
Does Love have any shape or form?
You dress in this shape. You are just joking.
You are an endless treasure.
No sultan’s seal could be put on such a treasure.
Even if a seal were put on one side,
you would quickly cut through it.
Submerge into this wealth and be silent.
How long will you be screaming,
clinging to hope and greed
while you sit next to this treasure?
*Iraq/ Buselik/ Hicaz Tunes of Near Eastern music.
**Eyaz The name of the slave of Gazne’s Mahmut, used symbolically to mean auspicious.
Divan-i Kebir, Volume 21, Ghazal 114, verses 1236-1246, pages 253-254.
Open a Door for Me (10/22/2023)
O my Cupbearer who adds souls to Soul,
for God’s sake, offer up a river’s full.
Pour that red wine into my drunken head. Continue reading “Open a Door for Me (10/22/2023)”
Love’s Charm is Different (10/8/2023)
“Immortality of the soul” is only a rumor coming from the sages.
There is no better end for Love’s presence
than Love itself. Continue reading “Love’s Charm is Different (10/8/2023)”
You Have Me in Return (9/24/2023)
Is there no music, no merrymaking for this lover
to help him attain his desire, to get his troubles to settle down?
In the morning, because of his separation,
he was frightened by daily troubles.
But at night, he found mercy from His moon. Continue reading “You Have Me in Return (9/24/2023)”
If You Were… You Would… (9/10/2023)
If you were out of your self like we are,
if you were also drunk,
you would have already broken the halo around the moon,
ascended the heights of the sky and sat there. Continue reading “If You Were… You Would… (9/10/2023)”
It is Not Worth It (8/27/2023)
You spilled the Water of Life
in order to save water to wash your face.
You wasted sugar and honey
and put poison in your mouth. Continue reading “It is Not Worth It (8/27/2023)”
Don’t Break the Jar (8/13/2023)
O sugar lipped one, don’t break the jar.
O stonehearted one, don’t break the jar.
If you become His drunk,
you will drink wine from His hand.
But, His breath is very dangerous.
Don’t break the jar. Continue reading “Don’t Break the Jar (8/13/2023)”
Plunge into God’s Sea (7/30/2023)
The Beloved came with that wine glass like a torch in His hand.
“Come,” He said. “Be my friend.”
“How nice,” I answered. “I will, right away.” Continue reading “Plunge into God’s Sea (7/30/2023)”