My mind is a forest
Boundless,
Ever growing.
Ever tangling.
My mind is a house,
deathless,
Ever glowing
Ever warm.
My mind is a lake
Dauntless,
Ever glimmering,
Ever moving.
I wander from tree to tree.
I wander from room to room.
I wander from coast to coast.
Where did you go?
Beyond the house,
Beyond the forest,
Beyond the lake,
Into the deep blue sea.
Into the cold black sea.
At first,
There was a crescent moon,
To guide me.
Then,
There was a full moon,
to blind me.
And now,
There’s a winning moon,
failling me.
My arms are sore,
My feet are frozen,
My eyes are burning.
I cannot last longer.
Where did you go?
There’s a trickle on my cheek.
There’ a sickle in my eyes
There’s a ripple on the lake.
And a voice telling me,
I don’t want you to follow me.
I don’t want you to care for me.
I don’t want you to love me.
My mouth is full of salt,
My mouth is full of water,
My mouth is full of bitterness.
Dearest,
Do you think a human being can control her heart?
Maybe you do…
Yours is hidden in a high tower.
Yours is hidden in a lost island.
Yours is hidden in a wild ocean.
That no one can cross.
Only fools venture to those waves.
Only lovers venture through the silence.
Only madwomen venture to that darkness.
But look through my eyes….
Beyond the waves I see peace.
Beyond the silence I see smiles.
Beyond the darkness I see a flicker.
Is it a candle?
Is it a star?
Is it a wildfire?
Burning and burning.
Like my heart,
Like my mind,
Like my hope.
And all I want is to…
Dance until I fall.
Sing until I falter.
Swim until I drown.
Lost in the motion
Lost in the emotion.
Lost in the ocean.
Lost but willing to be found.
Layla Ali Sultan 