Ghazal — Sarwat Zahra / Dr Rizwan Ali

Before this Earth, before even Time, only I existed and you.
Before sight or even imagination, only I existed and you.

Before thoughts climbed the stairs and dreams rubbed their eyes,
Before morning’s call,
only I existed and you.

Before light brightened and the world grew full,
Before things evident and things hidden,
only I existed and you.

We stand onstage in garish costumes;
Before we debased ourselves like this,
only I existed and you.

The body teaches restraints, but I talk back;
Before being arose in any way,
only I existed and you.

Simpleton god – he knows nothing of love, nothing of passion.

Even before my marrow stirred,
only I existed and you.