When you come like a long-lost light

upon my unlit corridor,

when your body neighbours mine,

I smell the flower you are,

when you flow like cascading pearls,

with feverish palms I gather you

at one go,

when those cherry lips set fire to a calm sea,

ships go mad in cherished chaos,

when your boughs and buds warrant a new lease,

all about you blooms the murmur of green.

Even as you sleep, the wings of butterfly

touch not your eyelids,

the world knows better than tread your dreams.

When like a nymph you swim in the melody singing in my vein,

When like the sun you embrace me with all enveloping clarity,

When like a soldier holding his flag proud

you never let me down,

peace then peace

Peace only

reigns in my soul.

Yasif Ahmad Faysal teaches English at the University of Barishal.