Saileelamrutha

The lover treads a lonely track Seeking the beloved on a thorny path Blow after blow from serrated arrows to the heart The mendicants at the infirmary of the lovelorn are clueless Unrequited remains most of the wishes of the lover Wounds and abrasions seem to be without reason This mad quest of the lover few understand and fewer speak about A taboo it is considered in this world full of businessmen How much more pain can the lover bear No one, not even the beloved understands The murshid asks me to quit anger and stop fretting over painful memories My fakir soothed my aching heart and wiped the hot tears streaking down my chin Now at least realize what is real and what is unreal, Said he Remove this wall of difference between you and me!

I sat still near the fakir Until I was driven to find a beloved "Is it prudent to bet my life's happiness on another?" Thinking thus I spent many a lonely days journeying the world Until the beloved came to my arms and pleased me I lost all judgement and prudence and fell hopelessly in love Every day I walked on shards of glass to reach the beloved's embrace Pain welled in the heart at regular intervals with hot tears streaming And sometimes the walk was weary and drab Without a shoulder to lean on or to weep As my bleeding and battered feet walked on I saw your neem tree in a soft clearing The fakir said "Live like a lotus in water" "Remember my name and cease this capricious journey" "Seek the beloved within and live happily" "This outer journey is the most crooked ever"! "Some call him Allah, Others Ram" "But remember his name and remain calm" As I wept at the fakir's lotus feet and fell asleep I re...