Love Poem: Habibati
Munir Mezyed Avatar
Written by: Munir Mezyed

Habibati

In my revelation 
The harp of the goddess of lyrics Persists in playing 
I sing.... 
In the beginning was my beloved and the spirit of God was moving 
Upon the face of waters.... 
My beloved is a godly mermaid with legendary colors. 
She descended from heaven unto my waters.... 
I bathe her in the brine of my tears.... 
Subtle in her long braids.. 
Floating in my spirit singing to me. 
She intermingles her essence with my burning desires, 
Lights the candle of my verse with nectar and passion. 

Oh, my beloved, how far I am from you 
But I am nearer to death! 
Withered like clouds, 
Grievous like a violet rose plunged in ice, 
And life is but an old, ill man 
Thus, I am still waiting...! 

Life bears a resemblance to death here, 
The eyelashes of the room enclose me, 
A lamp in the ark wherein fire warms not the sepulcher 
Thus, I am still waiting...! 
Am I truly alive..? 
Or, is there life living in death? 
My wait dances with me, my fears flatter me 
And I am still waiting.. 
I stroll... 
I stroll with my ennui, with a spirit enshrouded in mist, 
Whilst a sea is rising straight up to the shores of my soul, 
And the water soaking the stones of my heart. 
In your voice is the murmur of fabled water 
Whispering to the sands and stones, 
What will come forth, and that will go into a dream, 
An eminent dream that will live in concert 
And leave with autumn winds. 
You appear in the sky saying, Bless this pain, 
The pain indwelling in the depths, 
Glittering apparently in the spirit 
Like a frozen pond in winter. 

It echoes like sighs coming from a distant flute 
Filling the air with melodies. 
Melodies which are chanted by gods 
Who cry and moan with the sad tune. 
They pray, and call, 
"O Allah, who is he who makes souls cry..?"