A Topkapi Affair Poem by Sadiqullah Khan

The Caliph’s Janissaries
Concubines from the distant shores
A berry’s honey, the honey-bee
Thirst brings more taste to the tongue.
Men de-menned, The Sultan’s wane
Confide, and the prince’s born -
The mother to choose, for the royal
Bedchamber. Slaves, poverty, on sword
Below the holy verse, an artisan’s inlay
A satiated king, a devastated kingdom.

Sadiqullah Khan
Peshawar
November 14,2013.

Topkapi Palace, collage @ Bazaar Bayar