Daily Times

As the sun sets in the West,

It prepares to rise like a phoenix in the East.

The horizon shimmers with hues of gold

The twilight degrees,

Descends into Dusk.

The Eastern desert beckons me by name, harkens me

To delve into its palm,

Surrender to its immaculate beauty.

I am the virtuous maiden

Who became a sinner at your very first sight!

I am at the mercy of your piercing glances and thoughts,

Your words are my wine, my oxygen,

Flowing from the fountain of eternal desire.

You say I am a sorceress, blowing delicate midnight breeze

Nay! You are wrong.

I am but Alas, a whisper, a ‘Sigh’ of unrequited love

A reflection of this prejudiced town.

Walls, upon walls, were built, causing our separation.

Beloved, I long to fly from this gilded cage.

To travel the world, with you by my side.

Leaving my imprints on far distant corners.

The night is with us.

The twinkling of the stars,

Guiding our journey, perched on a cumulus cloud,

I travel the Sunset trail.

My journey begins.

Below me, I see the Temple of Tanah Lot,

Bali glows a greenish yellow.

The Taj Mahal, its pure white facade, turns a flaming red.

Its essence speaks to me in the language of ‘lovers.’

Like the burnt phoenix rising from ashes,

The Taj Mahal symbolizes inner transformation: strength and Elegance.

Leaving footprints on the sand, I walk ahead

Dancing to the music of the wind, washing away

The trail of footprints.

A storm rises from the east, I move in that direction

Leaves begin to fall as I approach closer to the Western seas.

The coast of Santa Monica, Key West is ablaze.

The pyramid of Giza, breathtaking.

My heart sings a tune, shattering the walls of separation.

I move ahead further…

I see the mystery of Stonehenge, unforgettable.

Acapulco, a stroll on the beach, the horizon is ablaze

The ocean enchanting, the sands soft and warm,

Tender to the touch.

My journey ends over the Eastern deserts.

I slumber, for the next magical moment.

The writer is a lawyer and social activist. She is an aspiring author who loves poetry and humour. She tweets at @ammara_gul

Published in Daily Times, January 2^nd 2018.