13 feb. 2020

THE VALE OF PEACE

endless days of desert
now lit dimly, fadedly.
no light, no shadow, no relief;
the dunes of wasteland hated me.

finally, it accepted me.

  and I fall to my knees and I thank Death.

in the great old vale of peace
a million stones and graves,
amongst flies and dogs and fleas
scouring as death’s slaves.

I walk and walk avenues
of funeral fog, deathlike silence…

aglow, at peace and tranquil
under a starry Najaf sky…

the sand sang slowly, creepily,
and camels ventured the night
through the violent, southern gales.

but the storm retracted instantly,
then slept with grace and might  
over all the rifts and vales.

    the caravans were surely sullen
    in gravest dire awe,
    for it is prince that they bury tonight.

    the nomad council ordered
    in respect of death’s dark maw,
    thus, to shut the light.

the prince of the Lebanese cedar woods
to the south of Dimašq and to north of al-Quds, 
 and of the Byzantines to the west 
    is forever laid to rest
    at the grace of Lords’ behest.

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