One True Love Poem by Samah Khan

That which keeps my sense alive
Is not the Science explained through the ages,
Nor the History of all the bloody battles and equally bloody conquests
Nor wars, plague, fires and people
But what I have learnt from my forefathers
And their forefathers (who constitute my long ancestry)
Is that never believe what you’ve been taught,
Until you’ve learnt it yourself

I’ve loved God-He was a panacea for every trouble
Growing up, pains and glories,
Battles fought and won
And had I listened to my pagan ancestors,
Or anyone else for that matter-
I doubt I would’ve learnt the entirety and satisfaction of His Love
Which stretches over boundaries like fog on a monsoon night,
Crossing oceans and continents, people and places,
Men and cattle;
His Love alone lets me lie in bed knowing that though I erred in many ways
(As humans often do) , none could belie the candor of my belief
Or say that I sin as often as he does

And if there’s a singular thing I’ve learnt
From my forefathers and their forefathers
Is that never believe what you have been taught,
Until you’ve learnt it yourself