*the Nights Apart Poem by Sadiqullah Khan

On the waters of the seas and oceans
In rivers and streams flowing down
When the lightness of the feet curved
On toes shortened like the Ming’s long
In freedom on the west sky your soul
I shall bring in my palm the ice of arctic
The anklets of the waters making whirl
On the silvery surface ambience metallic
With moon the tambourine as my eyes
In wonder stare to the miracles of moves
In imprints I longed to see again the lips
Reddened with cherries as you smiled
In heavenly company and the night
Warm feelings that melted into the cold

The night of dreams but where is it again
I looked to the morning star before rooster
Under the cool of the wall in the home
With high roof as the impressionist’s
Many hopes I counted in my heart to live
Your love but the distance of the days
The nights apart as my chest wet in tears
To the soothsayer and in the book of love
I looked my fate as the cruelty of time
One day but tell me how many days
To that one day and how prolonged
In sweet memories to the sleep I went
4/3/2009