The book of love I open… in it your name is written… and I surrender O’ Ali, and I surrender
Between its pages I’ve seen… the fate of a lover’s dream… and I surrender O’ Ali, and I surrender
When of you I’ve read… to worlds of love I’m led
* * *
My heart has been stolen by a book that every day I read
And each time it is taken from me, for its return I plead
A book of love that plants within each of its readers a seed
Lost and orphaned hearts toward a garden of roses it leads
Words that cry out: “The virtues and wisdom of this Ali heed!
Come and bathe within his love, for even his love is a deed”
And when this book speaks, I hear… trickles from my eye a tear… beauty I’ve not seen O’ Ali, beauty I’ve not seen
Your name music in my ear… a child’s crush without fear… beauty I’ve not seen O’ Ali, beauty I’ve not seen
In your path I tread… to worlds of love I’m led
* * *
Within this book of love O’ Ali I was reborn and raised
And yet each time I read of you, I still find myself left dazed
I read one page, and I find that my intellect’s left amazed
I read another, and I find that my mind, it becomes crazed
Lost deeply within your love, at your words O’ Ali, I gazed
And I drew you with each ounce of immortal wisdom you phrased
Your love became torture… I longed to see your figure… through this I saw you O’ Ali, through this I saw you
Your words my mind would capture… my heart it saw its teacher… through this I saw you O’ Ali, through this I saw you
With each word you’ve said… to worlds of love I’m led
* * *
I had asked this book to show me love, and I asked so calmly
Yet it gave me a love that made me cry out your name madly
Let me speak in the language of love – let me speak insanely
Ali I wear your love upon my chest, I wear it proudly
I’ve wept for that wound upon your head, I weep and mourn yearly
Whilst I walk and I stroll through the garden of your love daily
Every love was a poison… yet your love was a garden… how I fell for you O’ Ali, how I fell for you
I suffered separation… in your absence, an orphan… how I fell for you O’ Ali, how I fell for you
When to you I’ve fled… through worlds of love I’m led
* * *
It’s said that at birth, our foreheads names of our loved ones brighten
I found that your name, Ali, upon my forehead was written
And just below your name, O’ Ali, my eye, it would glisten
As my cheeks, the tears I shed for your tragedy would sweeten
Crouched in grief, to the cries of your orphaned children I’d listen
And watch the descended book of love toward his Lord return
Left in a state of mourning… whilst the book of love’s listening… love turns to sorrow O’ Ali, love turns to sorrow
The book of love I’m reading… I read whilst it’s bleeding… love turns to sorrow O’ Ali, love turns to sorrow
Soothing your struck head… to worlds of love I’m led
* * *
(London – 31/07/12)