How can I ever forget you — in life? Or in death?

shofi-ahmed Poems

The inevitable death, once, only momentarily, dies— just for a pause, like a blink in open eyes— then passes this whooping, precious, deathless garland over to her. Just in one single sip, you drank it in— that painstakingly unique, imperishable elixir of being. The timeless time sprawls, spotless and fine, across the ages— echoing through undying rhymes, tuned into countless tunes on this deathless-dead skeleton that breathes, that hums: "Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Aalameen." The note before the sun sings, in the Night of Creations— within, and without. Translation... is never enough. The nexus of time burst across the ages. The dew left the rose— not to fall, but to stir the ocean’s deep heart. Credible, nature! The blue peahen of the sky scurries down into that innermost drop— it flows in the soul, in a thousand and one rhythms, in the swell of song, a perfect, complete drop. As if sound itself remembered its beginning— The melody-nymph, in the orchestra of the sea, lifts the flute to her lips. Oh, that first music— mind-blowingly perfect. There — in that single drop — floats the sea, floats the full moon. A blue lotus shadow rests on the ocean’s deepest floor. Clothed in blue upon blue, sky-hued — forever shading the air. Her panache, midstream, remains out of reach. Who could ever touch that forever peerless ****** that numinous, untouchable water-nymph? Into the vast, sea-wide goblet of Tahura’s wine, all the thirsty warriors drowned deep. Even time took a deep breath of Ma, knowing not what was coming. Then you arrived — wondrous Shaaqi, from the far side of the eternal shore. Measured for just one sip, Your Highness— you poured it, indeed: all that is death, made immortal sweet. Start to finish, all in all, everything came to soothe the eyes — even the grave-dirt was placed in your hands. A single fistful of loosened soil… You became life to this death-struck soul, yet never did you let it slip into life’s final flow. How can I ever forget you — in life? Or in death?