My heart has been stolen, been taken away, by a look and a glance.
A pine for Her dearly and all through the day, by a look and a glance.
The turn of Her heel and the curve of Her arm has captured my heart.
The grace of Her dance, just the start of Her charm, by a look and a glance.
I would clothe Her in violet of deep royal hue, if I had riches fine.
But She already outshines the bright morning dew, with a look and a glance.
At the call of Her Voice brave men march out to go, and take up their arms.
And the armies are fielded to take on the foe, at a look and a glance.
The finest musicians and dancers around are inspired by Her Name.
And she calls up a heavenly chorus of sound, by a look and a glance.
This sweetest of flowers, this bright Rose of Gold can outshine the Sun.
And capture the Crescent Moon, silver and bold, with a look and a glance.
She can tame the wild beasts. Their strength is undone, with a touch of Her
hand.
At noon daily swans come to bask in Her Sun, by a look and a glance.
Notes: The ghazal is a Persian or Urdu poetry form made famous by such poets as Rumi or Fadez. It has a strict lyric structure. The poem should have between 5-15 couplets, or "sher." The first two should end in a rhyme, plus introduce the refrain, so the first couplets should both end in "...A / refrain." Each set of couplets should be able to stand alone as complete thoughts or sentences. And each successive couplet should repeat the refrain at the end of the second line. And it is optimal whether another rhyme is embedded. I chose to add additional rhymes within the later couplets. Throughout the ghazals of history, only one topical theme emerges—Love. Most often this is an unrequited love or one far exceeding station or rank. Finally, it was common for the the author to embed their name in the final sher, something I enjoyed doing immensely. --Eilidh Swann
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