You walked into the room – a ray of light,
your masquerade costume, my ray of light.
You whispered, “my beloved”, my heart soared,
Your face, a precious bloom – a ray of light.
Unworthy feelings banished, I flew high
Above the deepest gloom, your ray of light.
We lightly tripped together, love’s pavanne,
Breathless; into my womb, new ray of light.
And those who doubt love’s transforming magic,
Sweep them clean with a broom, heart’s ray of light.
And if dark days descend on you, my love,
Then I would expel your doom, dear ray of light.
My soul is bound with crimson threads to yours,
Many summers on life’s loom – love’s ray of light.
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Do visit dVerse for Samuel Peralta’s (aka Semaphore) wonderful post on the Ghazal as a form. This is the first time I have attempted to write a ghazal. It was very challenging to say the least.
Here is an extract from Samuel’s explanation of the form:
“Ghazals are beautiful poems, originating in Arabic verse from the sixth century, written traditionally about poetically physical or spiritual love, with a melancholic air of separation or longing.
Made famous in the Western world by the modern translations of works by Rumi and Hafiz, these translations unfortunately have been the source of much confusion over what a ghazal is.
Classic ghazals have a strict form and structure – similar to a Petrarchan sonnet. In trying to be faithful to the ancient poet’s words and expression, translators had to forego the structural framework of the classical ghazal in English.”
This is my attempt to remain true to the form. I couldn’t get my name into the last couplet
Marousia 