devotion

By Mohamed Lazzouni

In "Devotion," the author takes us on an exquisite poetic journey that builds upon the foundation laid in their debut collection, "Borders." This anthology is a heartfelt tribute to the transformative and enduring essence of love.

Within these verses, love reveals itself as a force that liberates, mystifies, and heals. The poems, like life itself, offer moments of vitality and rejuvenation, breathing life into the heart. Yet, they also possess the power to shatter illusions, laying bare the raw authenticity of our shared humanity.

"Devotion" goes beyond the ephemeral and fleeting aspects of love. It delves deep into the promise of love eternal, where the heart's devotion knows no bounds. Through eloquent and emotive language, the collection explores the complex and multifaceted nature of love, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's soul.

Immerse yourself in the profound and passionate world of "Devotion," where love's timeless embrace is celebrated in all its glory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350927870

Book preview

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© 2023 mohamed lazzouni All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 979-8-35092-786-3 eBook 979-8-35092-787-0

Table of Contents

Meeting

My Pen

The Seven Arrows

Beauty

Ephemeral Moments, Lasting Love

Ensnared

Dreams

In Your Presence

Journey to Eternity

Discovering

Seventh

Behind the veil

Look For Me

Each A Language Onto Itself

Come

Tell Me More

Humble Stone

Grateful

Connecting

Beyond The Horizon

It Is Time…

A thousand Names

The View From My Window

Dewdrop

Braiding

Vanishing Point

Whisking

Growing

Ode to the Reunited Lovers

A Different Song

Hazel Eyes

Addra

Love’s Canvas

I Love The Way

I Miss You

Day And Night

Timidity

The Art of Being

Let Us Hasten

Hurting

Whispers of the Third Step

Longing

Bustan

Between East and West

Love Once True

The Two Victims

Masquerade

Other Side Of Me

Restless Heart

Stain

Doubting

Life, A Callous Mitress,

Lament

I Know

Neglected

Book of the Heart

No Looking Back

Road

Solemnization

Healing

Came Back to Me

ON THE DAY YOU WERE BORN

An Answer to Saadi

Brush Away My Sorrow

The Night Cannot Grow Darker

Promise

To My Beloved

One Day

The Timeless Dance

Love’s Realm

Splendor

Sunrays

Dream Snatcher

My Keys

Aging

Youth Will Slip Away

Aging Vessel

The Silver Lining

Ending

The Last Vow

Eternal Flame

Shroud

Sign

The Garden

You And Me

We Left

In Death We Feel Most Alive

About My Poems

"I agree, O heart, that my ghazals are not easy to take in.

When they hear my works, experienced poets

tell me, I should write something easier.

I have to write difficult, otherwise it is difficult to write."

Mirza Ghalib

To Nadjette, my love…

"The heart has severed its ties with past affections and pursuits,

no longer vocalizing complaints or casting blame.

Once intoxicated, it now stands sober, once humbled, it

finds contentment.

In the heart of the one yearning for loftiness,

There is an oscillation in how well I can distance myself

from those who seek to demean me.

I strive to appease her, yet her displeasure lingers."

Antarah Ibn Shadad

Meeting

My Pen

What lurks within these stanzas, just out of sight?

A truth concealed, aching to see the light.

My pen etched words on paper, but they refused

To keep my secret safe, as I had mused.

Betrayed by pages that I thought were true,

They promised revelation, overdue.

So begins the unraveling of my heart -

Just one small glimpse, still shrouded in the dark.

This poem is a preface, a keyhole view,

Of passions yet unseen, love thought taboo.

Take my hand, journey with me through the night,

As verse by verse, my soul steps into light.

The Seven Arrows

From a lightsaber’s incision upon the horizon,

a glimmer of light oozes from the sky,

heralding the arrival of a frigid day.

Icicles glisten, their jagged edges threatening,

while the air penetrates even the thickest clothing,

banishing slumber like a relentless insect.

Stepping out into this new morning,

a fire ignites within me. Beneath my feet,

the soil cracks and recoils,

as if desecrated by unholy footsteps.

"I must embark on a quest,

for love awaits in the wilderness."

My arrows sprang to life just yesterday;

the prolonged winter has arched the back of my bow.

However, here, there is no game,

only leaves clutching desperately to their existence,

and a howling wind pretending to be something it is not.

O hunter, know this — love is not a game.

My first arrow is my heart,

and with every pull of the string,

I release it into the wild.

Sometimes it is lost to reason,

and other times to irresistible allure.

Occasionally, I hit the target,

but in doing so,

I forfeit reason and the essence of my being.

Careful choices must be made,

for when it is my turn to unveil the truth,

will I be prepared to surrender unconditionally?

My second arrow signifies my freedom,

and I shall retrieve it from the corner of my cell

to set it soaring farther than ever.

I yearn to become a child once more,

capturing black-eyed fireflies in a jar.

My third arrow is reserved for my archenemies,

for if left unchecked,

they would harm my offspring

and devour my loyal companions.

The fourth arrow must journey

to the far end of my garden,

where it is said

there exists a high station inhabited by sages.

The fifth arrow, alas, found its mark in the neighbor’s yard—

an acceptable outcome,

given my novice skills

compared to seasoned archers.

The sixth arrow carries greater weight,

harboring the secrets of the universe,

yet its message is intended solely for my beloved.

But the seventh arrow remains elusive,

and I am certain I packed seven.

Alas, I find myself bereft of ammunition.

Such is the nature of love;

when I draw near to my quarry,

it becomes unreachable.

It is time to relinquish arrows and bow,

abandoning the thirst for the hunt.

The moment has arrived for me

to become an astronomer,

for the glimmer of light that seeps from the sky

is the beckoning card of a nearby star.

Beyond the dome of my imagination,

entire universes await discovery,