Water Lilies

Roasting on fire the seeds of my heart
My horrified screams…
Rose through the Seven Heavens
Echoed in Eighth Heaven, made newly
From plumes of smoke from my heart

I am…
That water starved, thirsting tall palm tree
Burning within the fire of my life

Nah! Not a palm
I am…
The lilies, on tear woven water carpet of my two eyes

In the name of the Lord counting my troubles
In the bondage of trials my heart enslaved

My hope shrunk as small as my heart’s flesh
On this pony fastened my saddle and galloped

Though I am happy with the "1" my dice rolled
You are melancholy with the "6" yours brought

Alas I reached my hearth on stallion of troubles
Dust of its hoofs, clouding the skies opaque

I desire a meager hearth smaller than a seashell
Since the universe is tumultuous ocean storm

The dice of this life so simple and bland, amazing
Its backgammon board full of designs fancy

Do not lose your heart, Khaghaani, to this life
This seducer, lusts to slaughter
Its fallen lovers



Concept: Khaghaani narrates to us exactly what he is and what his life is all about. Whether he was roasted on fire and smoke rose as high as to eighth heavens or he is a lily on water of his eyes or riding the pony of hope… Indeed the conclusion is rather simple: This cosmos we are inside... is rolling dice non-stop just like a backgammon game. No matter how fancy the flowery designs of the board and the wood, the outcome of the dice drives the game of life. We as the ignorant mortals worry about the designs on a backgammon board and lose the game; instead we should have paid attention to the simple roll of the dice!


Language: Heart burning in Farsi means very intense heartache and melancholy caused by observing severe pain usually in others.

Many poets use backgammon as a paradigm for explaining the game of life. In particular the die is being used often specially the numbers 1 and 6. In this poem 1 indicates lack of fortune but content, and 6 indicates fortunate one displeased with their highest possible number i.e. 6.  











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© 2003-2002,  By Dariush Gholizadeh