Wandering

By Raihana Yusufali

We will
Look at the shells
Now behind glass doors
Pale, choking, withdrawn
Once flaunting in the waves of color and beauty
Its love sparked by endless embraces
of sand, salt and warm waters

We will
Arrive at His shores
Hearts pounding louder than the ocean
Waves rising higher and higher
Passions dissolving into scum and surf
Slowly sinking, yielding, drowning
Attaining desire through desirelessness

We will
Watch the stars mirror our souls
Twisted, faceted, demented, star-struck
Phantom winds whispering false promises
Longing, seeking star to star
For the one to reveal a true face

We will
See drama played in the evening woods
God’s flame sparked in thousand corners
Nargiss and Jasmine perfumed for the night show
Lone geese wailing in the sinking sun

Wandering souls in the dark
Shed your filthy skins
You are at the King’s door
Raw, exposed self-critical self,
Be the clumsy moth
Blind, laden with the nectar of love
Dance your final dance
around the flame