Classic Poem

High in the esteem of He
Who brought together
Sun and Moon,
Hind came wailing to her mother.

“Morning came to me,”
Cried she,
“And kissed me
Two kisses!

“Then he ran away …
When Darkness saw me
He bestowed
Two locks of his hair.

“He was bold, Mother!
He even took me to his bosom
And dimpled my cheeks
With two stars.

“Then his color melted
Into liquid mascara
That stained my
Eyelashes black.

“In the morning
I came to the garden
To hide myself
From all eyes.

“The garden cried out to me,
‘Oh, my Garden!’
And was about to do
As all the others had done.

“And so I hid my face,
Mother. But the garden
Stretched its hands out
To my chest,

“And when I looked,
To my surprise,
I saw there
Two pomegranates!

“A branch continued
To follow me
Then bowed at my feet,
Making two prostrations.

“It had two roses
On its stem
And to me it gave
The roses.

“I went to the sea
To cool myself,
But then it gave me
Two waves.

“And when I walked away
They quivered in my hips
Like the sea
In undulating motions …

“Like the sea, Mother!
You know it! So many
Boys have drowned in it,
Or nearly …

“But all these things
Have made me fretful.
By God, Mother,
What do you think?”

Her mother swayed
In pride
And double self-assurance.
She laughed and said:

“I have known them
Every one.
I have tasted what you have,
Now for the second time.”