Poetic Pauses

A scorching coal: I hold it in my palm 
Grip it tightly 
Pursuing warmth, seeking calm, 
And glow for the night 
I’m cold, and I’d burn to be warm 
For your eyes, longing; and in your eyes, exile 
I come from the isle 
The isle of the storm 
My eyelids hold rain 
And the fire 
Brings pain 
A scorching coal 
By God, desertion is cold 
And betrayal is icy cold 
Roses never grow on a forgotten date 
My proud love, your warmth is a feeling that is always late 
Restore the moon to its light 
And to its sweetest night, 
I’m cold, and I’d burn to be warm 
I saw you once, my first love 
My sweetest love, I adored you once 
And offered you a heart whole 
In return you gave me a scorching coal 
Since that day, exile 
And the stormy isle 
Harsh and long, the winter nights 
With a door and two cruel knights: 
The cold and the clouds

You rise above the clouds 
Although you are earth 
You rise above the stars 
Oh precious earth 
Your great glories are behind you 
And greater glories are yet to come 
In this world there is none like you 
He who walked barefoot on the scorching sand long ago 
Is worthy of you 
He who watered your soil with his sweat, tears and blood 
Is worthy of you 
He whose camels and sheep have grazed your arid deserts 
Is worthy of you 
Oh our land 
We are yours in frost and flame 
We are yours and your bounty is plenty 
He who called to God and ruled by his law 
Is worthy of you 
He who lifted you above all others 
Is worthy of you 
He who defended you with sword and pen 
Is worthy of you 
We who deserve you, are your clan 
We carry you in our eyes, people and King 
You remain above the peak of clouds 
Although you are but earth

Swings carried children 
To the setting sun 
Their pockets filled with fear and delight 
That is all I recall of them 
The passing wind 
Folded the gown and veil of a mother 
Whose dark eyes held the swings 
And whose hands were a heart pulling the strings 
That is all I recall of her 
The sun, a fleeing horse 
Towards the night, towards the mountains 
The world is empty but for a child 
A child and a woman 
A child, a woman, and a man 
A family 
That is all we should recall

On the brook reflected; was the sky 
Thirst casts my face into it 
On the brook: my face and the sky 
Till your face appears 
On the brook: my face, your face, and the sky 
The first to fill their hands 
Drinks the features of the other 
If only clouds shade the pale horizon 
And three birds fly by 
Between light and darkness 
Trees and grass grow 
And a child selling flowers is born 
Branches become a chair 
We sit together there 
Before the shadows fall 
At the edge of the picture 
On the brook: my face, your face, and the sky 
The first to fill their hands 
Drinks the features of the other