Let Me Hint the Worlds Around Thy Name
Ha! Ha! The first letter’s the last,
Like the zinnia, the zho, the zufolo, the zoo of animals, the zebra of Sahara, or the zeal of youth.
The second letter’s the first,
Like the Kashmiri apple, the Turkish apricot or the almond of Badam-waar
The third letter’s the second,
Like the beasts in the Lidder-forests, beer of Afghani grapes, beads of rosary, bed of dreams or bell of South-Indian temple.
The fourth letter’s the fifth,
Like the eyeball of eagle, ear of rabbit, emerald grasses of Gulmarg, evening of mid-summer or in autumns’ nights—enlightened streets of Srinagar.
The fifth letter’s the fourth,
Like the duck in Dal-lake, dog of my street, den of Himalayan lion, deer of Danchigam, the drama of life, the drink of heavens, dying of a saint, the door of heavens or the desire of my heart.
The sixth letter’s the first, and not nothing like the second!
Oh! As plain as this art in my verse or as obscure as that art in thy beau.
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