As They Left Me. Poem by Raja Nosherwan

Away goes my mind, away forever,
relieved, I stand staring at the gold
that I can make, -in fears could never,
when sanity, reason did me mold,
mind behaved keen and I was cleaver,
but, now can I in my freedom roll.
My heart then broods and I it treasure,
it but a leech, and I just a host,
infects me with desires, a pleasure,
worked stranded I, on the unranked post,
so, I knew not my own full measure,
and within myself was I the ghost.
My soul is sailing towards the sea,
and I pray the winds to blow swift, fast!
So back with a mortals harsh degree,
can come it not, and I could so last-
my living days, as a growing tree,
at passing on, -be the modest past.


Now, both my silent soul, and its stealth,
in air have vanished, from deep within;
I am left but with no gems or wealth,
yet, I enjoy this spontaneous din;
the stars shone same, in foul ethics health,
but, now I can shine, -giving begin.
Then full, plates, are empty at the noon,
the days of feasting from I did part,
the loud halls are barren at my rune,
the friends that were the entire smart,
have broken up, from my hollow tune,
so my brothers, I, can our feast start.
the dreams I saw have corrupted turned,
oh! have cast away the will to dream!
The ten cradle songs that I had learned,
in deep slumbers did no sins redeems
so awake shall stay as I have earned,
art of presence! Of a fluent stream.


My love represses her sharing smile
and I find no optimism there,
in the shortest hour -a moments while,
her smiles can be the fresh perfumed air;
the hours are my weed, I dung, -its pile
as I reek outstretched, without her here.
When plums the garden, as does her touch,
I crave it with all my senses, taste,
and I know her fondle to be such,
that is the juice, when her image braced,
can point she the darts of poison much,
fill the sky, -in my solitude placed,
when grows in secrecy, from her true,
my own truth become a horror tale,
words when sealed, before at me she threw,
again plead, to correct at what I fail;
poor bodiless madness might pursue,
But, my world without her, a pointless gale.



R.N.Khan, © 2011