A glimpse

A musk from heaven
wafted from your lips as you spoke,
brushed through auburn hair
with rose-petal hands,
weaving them into a braid—
your neck exposed.

I envied the strands that danced around you,
prayed to be the Nile running through your eyes,
then wept for the strawberry stain
blessing your lips.
Had I held just one piece of you…

The sun wraps you in its light
the way heat shies from the dunes of Sahar,
resting gently on the surface like waves on water,
calling from a distance—
whispers of a faraway land with secrets to tell.

Now, I brand you in my mind with hot iron,
dream of you even in waking,
then pray for forgiveness without guilt.
You are my heaven. You are my faith.
and kneel before you in my yearning.

You appear to me as Aten appeared to Akhenaten—
a discovery of the ages, the truth in myths.
Had I held just one piece of you…

In solitude, you called to me,
and resting my head upon your lap,
I heard you sing—
the voice of a thrush,
the words of the divine.
I pulled you in for a blossoming kiss
and tasted Sanctity.

You ruled over my heart as Wu Zetian ruled—
with blood, with ruthlessness, with glory.
Had I held just one piece of you…
But I did not.
The earth tasted your lips before I could,
the worms stole your light away.

If I find you in the burning flames of hell,
I will welcome the fire’s embrace.
Hold me, for once we die,
no handkerchiefs will wave us goodbye.