Last Commented Ghazal Poems (66)

Where are you now? Who lies beneath your spell tonight?
Whom else from rapture’s road will you expel tonight?

Those “Fabrics of Cashmere--“ ”to make Me beautiful--“
“Trinket”-- to gem– “Me to adorn– How– tell”-- tonight?

I beg for haven: Prisons, let open your gates–
A refugee from Belief seeks a cell tonight.

God’s vintage loneliness has turned to vinegar–
All the archangels– their wings frozen– fell tonight.

Lord, cried out the idols, Don’t let us be broken
Only we can convert the infidel tonight.

Mughal ceilings, let your mirrored convexities
multiply me at once under your spell tonight.

He’s freed some fire from ice in pity for Heaven.
He’s left open– for God– the doors of Hell tonight.

In the heart’s veined temple, all statues have been smashed
No priest in saffron’s left to toll its knell tonight

God, limit these punishments, there’s still Judgment Day–
I’m a mere sinner, I’m no infidel tonight.

Executioners near the woman at the window.
Damn you, Elijah, I’ll bless Jezebel tonight.

The hunt is over, and I hear the Call to Prayer
fade into that of the wounded gazelle tonight.

My rivals for your love– you’ve invited them all?
This is mere insult, this is no farewell tonight.

And I, Shahid, only am escaped to tell thee–
God sobs in my arms. Call me Ishmael tonight.

As the rains continue to batter,
standing on the balcony
i watch the rain drops
converge into one pool of water;

i wish you were here
standing next to me
in this rain soaked night,
holding hands, scheming of things pretty;

Wondering to myself, so late at night,
what is it that attracts me to you?
Thinking to myself, why are you always on my mind?
What power do you have in what you do?

thinking about where i stood,
i try to push you out of my mind,
but every time i push you out of my thoughts,
you crawl back into my world and fill my senses;

it’s so hard to keep smiling
and continue denying what i feel
i don’t know why,
a thousand reasons i have none;

i can’t go on like this,
i can’t pretend everything is fine,
when i just wanna be with you
hold you tight tonight and every night;


By
Rekesh

So many seasons' caravans passed by without you
But I feel no happiness without you

Every moment the beetles desire your coming
Every petal is blooming in red without you

Even the signs of memories were washed away in tears
Alas! The whole earth is now a desert without you

Till yesterday the ship rolled joyously on the sea
That ship has now fallen into ruins without you

I thought of you while dreaming at nights
The evenings of my life passed by without you

Perhaps 'Zafer' could not bear being away from you
He took his last breath weeping continuously without you

Zaheer'an jahjatag doshi manara naaraga nealant
pah deedaar'aa gulein laaley manara chaaraga nealant

barey kandan gala baal'an barey grreawan o behaalan
barey anchein zaheer kayan keh ars'an gowaaraga nealant

mun gendan goragein kullan diley aas geptagein pull'aa
mun be-mouth'aa mir'an mulla mana iskaaraga nealant

Zaheer'an jahjatag doshi manara naaraga nealant..

There are different wells within your heart.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far too deep for that.

In one well
You have just a few precious cups of water,
That "love" is literally something of yourself,
It can grow as slow as a diamond
If it is lost.

Your love
Should never be offered to the mouth of a
Stranger,
Only to someone
Who has the valor and daring
To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife
Then weave them into a blanket
To protect you.

There are different wells within us.
Some fill with each good rain,
Others are far, far too deep
For that.

Hey, here Winebringer, circulate, offer the cup this way;
For love at first seemed easy, now problems come to stay.

Finally breeze sent muskpod's scent from that forehead:
Its twist Of musky hair makes blood clot our hearts today.

Can wayfarers stay happy and secure in Beloved's house,
When suddenly the bell clangs to: "Lift your load! Away!"

With wine dye your prayer-mat if the Master commands;
This experienced traveller has understanding of the way.

The dark night and terrifying wave and fierce whirlpool:
Do those light of burden on shore know where we stay?

By acting upon my own desires I ruined my reputation:
Can the secret stay that way when crowds tell it all day?

Hafiz, if you desire the Divine Presence, do not be absent:
When you visit your Beloved: "Farewell" to the world say.

Hey, here Winebringer, circulate, offer the cup this way;
For love at first seemed easy, now problems come to stay.

Finally breeze sent muskpod's scent from that forehead:
Its twist Of musky hair makes blood clot our hearts today.

Can wayfarers stay happy and secure in Beloved's house,
When suddenly the bell clangs to: "Lift your load! Away!"

With wine dye your prayer-mat if the Master commands;
This experienced traveller has understanding of the way.

The dark night and terrifying wave and fierce whirlpool:
Do those light of burden on shore know where we stay?

By acting upon my own desires I ruined my reputation:
Can the secret stay that way when crowds tell it all day?

Hafiz, if you desire the Divine Presence, do not be absent:
When you visit your Beloved: "Farewell" to the world say.

O bartender, my friend, won't you pour me some wine
I thought that love would be easy, but it just grows harder with time

It was in the night a breeze brought the scent of musk from the head of that one so fair
and ever since that night, how my poor heart aches, from just one twist of his hair
Dye your prayer mat red with wine if the master tells you to
that holy one knows the secrets of the path and he will surely guide you through

How can I be happy and free from doubt on this path to my Beloved one
At any moment the caravan bell may ring out and say "your time in this resting place is done"

Death is like a cold, dark whirlpool, a wave of suffering, just waiting to wash us away
you who rest in comfort upon the shoreline, how can you know our state?

I have followed my own whim, and now all my work has brought nothing but disgrace and shame
this whole world talks about the mystery of love, but it remains a secret just the same

O Hafiz, if you long to be with him, don't be absent from him, no
when you visit with your Beloved one, abandon the world and let it go

If anyone asks you
how the perfect satisfaction
of all our s*xual wanting
will look, lift your face
and say,

Like this.

When someone mentions the gracefulness
of the nightsky, climb up on the roof
and dance and say,

Like this.

If anyone wants to know what "spirit" is,
or what "God’s fragrance" means,
lean your head toward him or her.
Keep your face there close.

Like this.

When someone quotes the old poetic image
about clouds gradually uncovering the moon,
slowly loosen knot by knot the strings
of your robe.

Like this.

If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,
don’t try to explain the miracle.
Kiss me on the lips.

Like this. Like this.

When someone asks what it means
to "die for love," point
here.

If someone asks how tall I am, frown
and measure with your fingers the space
between the creases on your forehead.

This tall.

The soul sometimes leaves the body, the returns.
When someone doesn’t believe that,
walk back into my house.

Like this.

When lovers moan,
they’re telling our story.

Like this.

I am a sky where spirits live.
Stare into this deepening blue,
while the breeze says a secret.

Like this.

When someone asks what there is to do,
light the candle in his hand.

Like this.

How did Joseph’s scent come to Jacob?

Huuuuu.

How did Jacob’s sight return?

Huuuu.

A little wind cleans the eyes.

Like this.

When Shams comes back from Tabriz,
he’ll put just his head around the edge
of the door to surprise us

Like this.

"I know not who resides within my heart
Though I am silent, she must shake and quake.
My heart went through the veil, play a song
Hark, my fate, this music I must make.
I paid no heed, worldly affairs I forsake
It is for your beauty, beauty of the world I partake.
My heart is on fire, I am restless and awake."