Down the hidden allies of
old "Samarqand"
And one chilly day
I walked once.
Eager,to see what
she might reveal.
Curious,to have me behold,
To watch and feel
an ancient land.
Mysterious,
That one Samarqand.
I saw a landmark.
A famous esplanade,
Me thought.
A learning square.
Kept on walking,
Under mighty walls.
Then,
I sat on a humble chair,
Relishing my hot coffee.
As I wondered,
Staring at oriental tiles,
Engraved arabesque
on famous walls.
Relucent,they were tall.
Fragile,
Fragile,
Me thought
They took their share
of nasty tremors.
I noticed,
Two orange tigers,
Frozen on mosaics
when I fed some birds.
When I resolved
to pay him a visit.
I hired an ailing coach.
Went away,
Tamping noisy roads,
Before we approached
Timorlane's reposing home.
Enchanting mausoleum.
I have seen two graves
and the precious stone.
I recited in my heart
short prayers.
His name,though,
I voiced loud.
Suddenly,
Someone yelled out!
Do not call him that?
Must you be shy?
Do not call him
"Timorlane"
The Persian lie.
A stigma, a taint,
The way he limped,
"Timor"
A plain Timor,
Would label my hero
Just fine, she said.
A fearsome man,
This "Mogul"
Said my heart.
Why did he snatch
my Architects?
Dear lady,
Said my heart.
Why did he kidnap
my masons?
When he had me conquered.
Stern to erect a fancy
short dream.
Racing with time,
Me thought.
Adamant,
Among a boasting world,
A tribal nation
must be counted.
Red stained,
Savage reign,
Ruthless means,
She must be counted.
A fearsome impatient man
with taut dreams
and he survived.
A long time,
He survived.
Outlived his council,
Outlived a look-alike,
A grand son,
The green Sultan.
A wasted soul
killed in a
hopeless battle.
Timor clothed himself
the black.
Declared an endless mourn.
No smile dared to sneak,
or stray back on his rugged face.
Still,
He fought his
endless battles.
In his well,
He dictated
his weird clause!
A blue stone must be laid
on his tomb.
Laying close,
to his tomb,
The grave of
a lonesome child.