persian nights

the cool desert sand
bathes my skin.

under a pale crescent moon
the world becomes
so many shades of gray.

in the distance
the haunting notes
of a duduk borne on a breeze
reach my humble fire.

beneath a flurry of stars
i dare to dream
of my beloved’s sparkling,
faraway eyes.

i’ve stopped counting the years
of this wandering
and pray for rain.

the cool desert sand
bathes my skin.