Oasis Of Love Poem by Eric Rhodes

After keeping my heart
locked away like a ruby
in a safe box,
I see the reason
of your apparent betrayal.
I longed for you, my al Zahra,
like a parched man
for water in the desert sun.
I the caliph, so powerful,
was but a slave
of unrequited love.
For you, my lover,
I built a palatial oasis of love,
glistening against the blue sky
like quicksilver.
Its' narcissistic beauty dazzled
and awed visitors to tears,
yet I, my dear,
only wept that it did not
capture your heart.
Betrayal, I perceived
bringing to ruin the palace,
yet now I understand,
having drained this well of tears,
it was the key unlocking
my heart to love like a dove
freed from it's cage.


(2009)
In memory of Medinat al-Zahra