I remember distinctly the beginnings of this love
About which it was easy to make vows so hard to prove
Click here to read the full ghazal #50 and commentary.
When my Beloved’s face first appeared over the rim of my world,
Hundreds of flags of praise immediately were unfurled.
Click here to read the full ghazal #51 and commentary.
After all, who are the worse off—the warm-housed heart-poor
Or us stumbling through the night towards the Beloved’s door?
Click here to read the full ghazal #52 and commentary.
After the night’s rain the sky was an inverted bowl of crystal
In which the kookaburra’s laugh was a musical repeating pistol.
Click here to read the full ghazal #53 and commentary.
The tracks we follow lead back to the place from where we came.
We are mighty hunters—but we ourselves are the game.
Click here to read the full ghazal #54 and commentary.
The rains have come and the earth has put out fresh tender shoots;
But our drought continues and gnaws at our slender roots.
Click here to read the full ghazal #55 and commentary.
From the bush of our burning grief comes the voice of your singing,
But from the ash of our hearts never a phoenix is springing.
Click here to read the full ghazal #56 and commentary.
I wish every man the love of a woman beautiful and tender.
Unless he has first died on her breast, he can never fully surrender.
Click here to read the full ghazal #57 and commentary.
Nearly fourteen hundred years since the orchard of desire was inspected—
During which time the trees have flourished as though hormone-injected.
Click here to read the full ghazal #58 and commentary.