Not a single day passes in lovers’ lives without tears, reflecting each other’s longing in the ancient pain-mirror— reminds Jaihoon in this poem

Last night she made me
In love’s pain cry
When heard I her tale
Of plead to the Most High

I too once used to wail
Like a small child
For hours would I sit
In the prayer mat like-nailed

My words were not loud:
I wept as if I never cried

Hey Tasbih!
Why make me cry with your tale?
Why make my face pale?

Why make me envy about
Your Him-loving maqam?
Why burn in me the flame-
Of love with this kalaam?

Why spread the fire
Of your restless heart?

The lessons of patience
I am yet to to learn

Excuse upon excuse
Have you brought
To make my heart
In His Love wither

I have but one appeal
O sweet Rose
Make me cry as much
But remain with me ever

Tears shed in solitude
Lack the warmth
Unlike those
When beside the friend

Jaihoon too can
Your tears trickle
With Him-arousing moments
Not so little

‘Tis the age-old habit of Love
To make tears in lovers flow

Not a single day passes
But the lover cries

Each makes the other’s eyes blur
Reflecting one another in the pain-mirror


March 07 2004. Edit march 2023