Incense flower.
It's used in Bhuddhist temples. It's fragrance is ethereal, temple like.
Clicked at 14000 ft, Roopkund trek, July 2016
Ishq means love.
If you google it (I did to find out the etymology of the word), you'll be told that in Arabic it carries derogatory connotations because Ishq means a passionate, sensual love which makes a person loose his senses....etc.etc. I was taken aback when I read this. Why, I thought, what other kind of love is there?
Sharing this poem that has birthed today, thanks to a definition that made me bristle a bit.
*****
Ishq is Love
And Love is boundless
It can not be contained in a definition.
We may try to
confess it
profess it
write about it
in poetry
or
in verse
but it
escapes
all
those ties.
Try holding tight a fist full of sand
who gets hurt?
your fingers?
or
the sand?
When the I shushes and becomes Quiet
Ishq happens.
Ask the grains of coffee
who long for the scalding water
to embrace them
Watch
how they dissolve
disappear
Who can say when you drink
where the particles went?
The water, now fragrant and virile
oozes aroma
that which was the essence of the grains
is now one with water
is now one with water
who won?
who lost?
Is this Ishq
or
madness?
I dissolves in the sea of infinite
Ishq smiles and kisses his beloved.
******
Sufi poetry is a staple for me and one of my favourite poets is
Baba Bulle Shah (18th century Sufi poet)
whose poetry has been sung by many,
but the rendition that gives me goosebumps (every time I hear it )
is this one: sung my the legendary Abida Parveen.
I chose this old video because it has English subtitles.
If you're short on time, listen to the first three minutes to get a flavour.
If you're blessed with enough time on hands, enjoy...
If you're new to Sufi poetry, here's a post from the 2016 challenge which may be helpful:
Be the Joy you seek in others:)
Join me here with J (Insh'Allah) tomorrow.
