The Decree

"مرداب به رود گفت: "چه کردی که زلالی؟

(The pond asked the river:" What did you do to become so clear?")

"!رود جواب داد: "گذشتم 

("I moved on!" replied the river.)

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For The Malik I Adore!

Lately I've come to know of various people and have made friends with quite a few of them. 

But there have been only a few, really, really special ones. Special to the extent that a mere thought of them makes one smile and that smile touches the very edges of heart like the glow of soft candle light.

Amina, you're one such person.

You define the idea of beauty; of strength, for me. 

If there's one wish Lord would let me have today, I'd ask for a life for you that spreads under your feet savoring the flavour of being conquered by a queen.

May you blossom, love. 

May you conquer! 

May you triumph! 

May life never cease to be an unending adventure for you - for that is the only way it deserves to come your way!

May you surmount each adventure like only you can do!

I wish you love, love.

I wish you greatness.

I wish you all, that your darling self is made to achieve! 

A very happy birthday to you! 

May you have many, many, MANY more! Amen.

I dedicate 'Phenomenal Woman' from Maya Angelou's And Still I Rise to you! 

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing of my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can't see.

I say

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

The palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

That's you!

Culmination

بر من درِ وصل بسته می‌دارد دوست

دل را به عنا* شکسته می‌خواهد دوست

زین پس من و دل شکستگی بر در او

چون دوست، دل شکسته می‌دارد دوست

Beloved kept the door closed on my endless pleas.

Beloved wanted a broken heart, and I on my knees.

So now, I wring my heart, I kneel down with ease:

“Beloved! It's a pleasure to do what you please!”

Credits: Persian verse by Rumi, translated to English by Maryam Dilmaghani.
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