Only the Moon Understands
No stars tonight, yet eyes transcend towards bright moonlight.
Oh Moon, without words, we converse in lone quiet moonlight.
Angst of two hearts apart, shows in somber persona,
spirit fears her vision will fade with benight moonlight.
Untouched unique pearls searching for an oyster retreat.
Hoping fate is kind, before the sight of slight moonlight.
A path of thorns has grown upon my beloved's trail,
guide my soul, so lips reunite in twilight moonlight.
Shy stars shall shower her in sacred specks of stardust.
Bring her into my arms and we will ignite moonlight.
Heart has no desire to dwell in deception of dawn.
Our bond is stronger in mystical midnight moonlight.
Silent One, craves to see moonlight reflect in her eyes.
In distance, our yearnings, fragrantly invite moonlight.
The Silent One
26 August 2020
There are different definitions for a Ghazal, and different interpretations of the from.
Ghazal poetry is poetry of longing. Traditionally, the ghazal tended to focus on unattainable love, often illicit, or sometimes on metaphysical questions. But, today, the ghazal has broadened to touch many types of longing and loss.
The ghazal is a form poem that uses the art of rhyme and repetition. As it is originally a Persian form and the Indian subcontinet, the refrain and rhyme can be lost when translated to English, as is the meter.
Although mine is not perfect meter, I did stick to thirteen syllables.
How to Write a Ghazal
1. Number your poem stanzas from 1-5, to make sure you meet the minimum of 5 stanzas. You could go as high as 15. But maybe start out slowly.
2. Each stanza will include two lines (a couplet)
3. Each couplet should be able to stand alone, as if it were its own poem. In some ways, this is good news, because you don’t have to be responsible for creating a narrative.
4. Every line is traditionally the same length (English writers are forgiven this task)
5. In the first line of the last couplet, the extroverted poet gets to insert him or herself. Fun, if you are the type! Call yourself by first name and see how it feels to live in a poem.
Here’s a sample from an Agha Shahid Ali poem (bold added for teaching purposes):
And I, Shahid, only am escaped to tell thee–
God sobs in my arms. Call me Ishmael tonight.
A) The first couplet ends with the same word.
B) The first couplet introduces a rhyme *inside* the lines, right before the final word
C) The end word will now repeat at the end of every *second* line of the rest of the couplets
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