POETRY

Land of the Lovers

Poem in dreamscape

For what occasion doth I wake midst dream to prayers of little children and families?

Above her head the new couple’s rose doth stand. No one can take a photo close up.

What lies behind the couple’s kiss resound there with prayers in the valley.

“Kindle the fire of love,” aunts, uncles, family, “and burn away all things, then set thy foot into the land of the lovers.”

Sometimes the ears hear the pell of prayer even in dreams not aware of the choir behind or why you were invited to this outdoor festival the whole town bowing before the greatness.

“Kindle the fire of love, and burn away all things. Then set thy foot into the land of the lovers.”

There is a fragrant breath a prayer call across the village the sleeping even hear and they nestle. And I, having a cold, awake, glad that the angelic spirits are singing somewhere somehow!

I, and the terrier curled up in a spiral on the bed side.

The bells the ring of prayer is familiar, as if laughing people sit at outdoor tables satiated with cheese and salami sandwiches but rarer, an octave higher across town.

This is not the poem I was toiling over when awake, the one about snakes and lizards.

To whom are the blessed calling? Thee? Me? We?

Perhaps God wished to lift me to a chorison an orison a clothesline of freshness of purity beyond blowing my nose and feeling sick

and knowing I’d write this journey down, to summon you, aunts, uncles, family, with me to the land of the lovers.

🌿 Quote is from “Call of the Divine Beloved”, “The Seven Valleys” by Baha’u’llah. To hear the quote sung with guitar click here.

Thanks for joining in the experience of this poem. Special thanks to Carolyn Hastings, Co-editor of “Paper Poetry”, for collaborative, discerning editing.