Apologies for the late post. I started to write a rant for this week’s blog post about the tax reform that was passed late at night by the Senate Republicans, about the direction that I saw the US heading, and about how I was glad to be outside of the US during the remainder of the Trump presidency. However, I quickly soured on this topic.
Instead, I chose to write a ghazal. For those of you unfamiliar with a ghazal, here is more information about the form. Since Qatar’s National Day is December 18th, it seemed apt that I write something in the spirit of the day, so I poured my energy into a poem rather than polemics.
It’s been a while since I wrote a poem, maybe 20 years? Not since my creative writing days at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Writing a 20-line poem took me two to three times longer than writing my average blog post, which is usually about 1200 words. Moreover, the poem still feels raw, like something I rushed through the proper incubation period.
Still, weekly blogging requires weekly blog posts!
If you are interested in reading other, better ghazals, please check out “Cast-Iron Ghazal” or “WWE“. (Note: I have a soft spot in my heart for poems that reference professional wrestling.) Enjoy!
Ghazal for Doha
Three years of my life I was willing to trade
for money and escape, for the lure of Doha—
A chance to stroll Al Corniche at night, to watch the
flashing neon lights of the dhows moored in Doha.
So all that I owned, hastily, I gave away
my decades of trinkets—bargained for Doha
Like a rash vendor in the alley of a souq.
“I give you best price. Better deal not in Doha!”
Still, not all that I loved would freely fit into
four check-in bags: some things could not come to Doha.
A son off to college, the other in high school—
Would they hate me for disappearing to Doha?
Worried, one son asked, “Dad, you will come back someday?”
I promised, and they promised to visit Doha.
That left you. Was there a plan for us too? Or was
I meant to mourn under the moonlight of Doha?
In your last message, after I told you I was leaving,
no spilled feelings, over my exit to Doha:
Conan, I enjoyed the year that we shared. I hope
you find happiness. Have a safe flight to Doha.
you find happiness. Have a safe flight to Doha.
