If only I could find my voice Bereft of echoes and banshee screams I would become another Hallaj And shout out your name From the roof tops Of the ravaged Baghdad of my Heart I would lay no claims To truth or divinity or even To you. For no one can claim You, it was made clear from the Day Iblis himself rebelled Against Allah and his creation No one could ever claim you, It was made clear No poets, no philosphers, No kinghts, no seers, no mendicants Of cheap arts. They all sought to, but failed. For who has tried kissing the fire, And lived to tell the tale. But rueful though the fate Has been to the lovers of yore I will try again, even though I know My fate Thirst would show on my lips Like ages old parchment recording Banal grocery lists of roman Camps and heat would ravage my face Like masks of wooden Norse gods I will try again, even though I know All I will shout in the end Will be ‘Tobaiey Takseer