Zuleikha

Part I


Her Highness - when she walked the earth

Blooming flowers forgot their worth

Her charming face - a dream come true

When soft winds on her visage blew

Her loveliness and intellect

A lot of lovers did collect.



His Highness was a righteous man

Minister of a worthy clan

His love was like a thousand things

That spring to every garden brings

Never did his sweet love decrease

Thus was minister Al-Aziz.



Her Highness like a lady true

Made ways for his love to renew

But in her womb she grew no child

She worried some, but Aziz smiled

His love needed no progeny

He placated her agony.



But as his age advanced a few

He needed a son too, he knew

In time he crossed a market place

And saw a slave with charming grace

A face that shone in glowing light

And eyes like none other - so bright.



He brought this young lad home with him

And catered to his every whim

This was the son he never had

Looking at him he was so glad!

unto his wife he said the same

So that is what the slave became.



Part II



Her Highness and her character

Their beauty grew like no other

She walked gardens and wore her silk

Her skin - like cream floating on milk

And Al-Aziz - the minister

Continued to administer.



The boy (Yusuf) was handsome too

With character and eyes so true

God-fearing, he was a delight

A strange beauty - wonderful sight

He served his master like a son

And soon was his beloved one.



But Satan played his part so well

In noble hearts he loves to dwell

So in the heart of Her Highness

He kindled a fiery furnace

That made her long for Yusuf's care

And such feelings her heart did bear.



No matter what Her Highness did

The passion that she could not rid

Kept growing in her smitten heart

Until it tore her soul apart

Scheming ways to earn his fancy

Emotions running a frenzy.



And soon Her Highness got her chance

A feat unworthy of her stance

Finding him alone in the room

Allowed her passion to resume

Choosing the path of seduction

Tried to lead him to temptation.



Part III



Her Highness was so beautiful

The face and eyes so wonderful

But Yusuf who was clean and pure

Did not give in to this allure

And when he headed for the door

A piece of shirt she pulled and tore.



And on the other side there stood

Aziz and all his servants good

So caught suddenly in this game

Her Highness chose to save her name

She told her husband what it was

She told him Yusuf was the cause.



But Yusuf pleaded innocence

And what he said did make some sense

The shirt was torn from the behind

And this is what the group did find

Her Highness and her shame now found

She hung her face to face the ground.



Part IV



Her Highness was a noble soul

No matter how she did console

Her heart was given to the man

Who did not fall into her plan

She thought of ways to avenge him

For not giving in to her whim.



Her Highness and her shameful act

It kept her passion still intact

And knowing she could not resist

To her husband she did insist

Let Yusuf be taken to gaol

And that is how her love would fail.



With Yusuf now taken away

Her Highness was no more so gay

She wandered around with her guilt

And everyday her soul did wilt

She turned everywhere in despair

But her sad heart knew no repair.



Part V



Her Highness and her beauty now

Was gone, with wrinkles on her brow

Her body, once so plush was frail

Her lips now bent in downward trail

She walked the earth so laden by

Her heavy heart that made her cry.



Her Highness spent so many years

With this guilt and with these tears

Until one day she was summoned

To talk of what Yusuf had done

What was the crime for which he had

Been sent behind the bars so bad?



Her Highness tired of her shame

She chose to take up rightful blame

It was her love that made her err

She had punished him for his flair

Yusuf had no crime after all

It was her fault, it was her fall.



They say when you sin and repent

You are like one who never went

Away from guided paths of faith

And though this was no love too great

It still had suffering and pain

The kind of pain one would disdain.



Her Highness, no one knows of her

What happened afterward to her

Thus was the love of Her Highness

Stooped from her ranks to brazenness

Repenting though she then became

The lover who accepted blame.    



Note: I have no knowledge save what was revealed in the Quran. This poem is my own figment of imagination from a part of the wonderful story of Surah Yusuf. The story of Yusuf (Joseph) peace be upon him has never ceased to move me. This is my take on unrequited love. Details on the real story as related in the Quran can be found here: http://goo.gl/I72az


Picture source: http://goo.gl/weQAM