Lovers can sustain no other desire when they stand in the presence of the Beloved, writes Mujeeb Jaihoon

Madina is,

Where voices hush,
When limbs freeze,
And hearts triumph.

Where the Verses you recite
Were once revealed through
The Beloved’s benevolent lips.

Where lovers tread barefoot,
To celebrate the pain-joy
Of the sun-baked sands.

Where all wishes fade,
And the Beloved turns a bride,
Bejewelled and love-dyed.

Jun 14, 2008. Edit Jan 2024