Where have you been?
That it took me long to find thee
Lost in a Hausa romance scene
Or swamped by a swarm of king bees.
But, Hausa you are not
Neither a queen bee you are
I’m lost in thought
Of the origin of this black star.
Whoever says black is beautiful
Makes an understatement
How can you be beautiful?
When you surpass beauty’s testament.
Your curvature leaves the hour glass in envy
A contest it dare not start, nor think of winning
You leave the wolves in frenzy
And this poet a weakling.
Your beautiful eyes, a replica of the smiling moon
This cast a glow upon my heart
Like the shade of the cactus blooming in June
Is a sheer miracle to look at.
The sparkle of your twin dimple at night
Like two silver coins upon a threshold
A beautiful delight
For a child to behold.
A marvel to touch
By the hand behind these words
But a caress of such
Would be met by your eyes’ wrath.
I could liken you to a burning candle,
A wonder to look at
And a disaster when mishandled
As a burnt heart is the aftermath.
Your flawless black beauty
Like the perfected art
Of enchanting African poetry
Rendered by heart.
Like hajar-al-aswad
Kissed by virtuous men and women
Holy in pristine swab
Amongst black beauties, you are the doyenne.
I do not have your love,
But I’m lost without it
Like a long lost dove
Farther away from home, with every heartbeat.
(hajar-al-aswad is arabic for 'the black stone', it is found in mecca.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
beautiful, Muideen, beautiful. The cactus flowering in June is a joy to behold.