[A]Zikr

You wake up or think You have woken up.

And again pain Hobbles you, till

Your lips touch The frosted ground.

How many tears You have shed

All these years! This earth is caked

With salt. What can Grow in such soil?

Wonder why these swift Days, this warm bread,

These clear starry nights, Leave no taste on your

Complaining tongue?
Tell me, friend, how many

Seconds has it been since you Last remembered the Beloved, Who lives in your chest?

[B] Rounding the lines

You think if you do this You will be loved Or if you don’t do this You will not be loved.

This may be so among The sleepwalking fools.

But when you circle These lines of doing And not-doing inside,

What holy foolishness follows!

[C] Cleaning the Muck

When she meets you Your happiness knows No bounds,

At least for the first Five seconds. Then Everything becomes

As before. The hunger Still remains, and love Quickly leaves

By the back door. Friend, how can you Claim

To have seen her When your glasses Are covered

With muck!