Qādi ‘Iyyād

Hot head and feet, still digesting lamb meat,

Wending way on cobbled stone through Suq street

Asking selected for the great man’s tomb

Approaching him and leaving tourist’s gloom

Until nothing new is left, day to day

Remains, plain, essential, a human wave

flows and eddies towards our well-known friend.

…

Across the court of languorous kittens,

Shade gone, brief hammer descends before bidden

Into cool and muted light collect us.

Sarcophagus serene and always thus,

Presence itself transfers to wearied hearts,

Welcome before good manners to these parts

And our hearts are soothed by its acceptance.

…

Hearts expanded lit up like dawning day,

The same in essence each one his own way.

How can it be other, never undone

All illumination comes from the sun

Whose unmeasured strength dispels darkened song.

We understand now it does not belong

To anyone but they belong to it.

…

The unseen, soft, ancient hand passes tea

Over word, tune and calméd hearts that see,

Waves overwhelm while wellspring overflows

How, why or wherefore no one ever knows.

The gift is in the power of the Giver

Regardless of the life seen by its liver

Submit, be grateful, share your blessed fate.