Free Verse – Immersed-In-Verse

I Found Myself

I was born into a world devoid of ambitions and skills.
My youth passed with little laughter or joy.
Schooling taught me nothing but ancient, forgotten history.
I paved a path to college, and fell fast asleep.
I worked hard and held good jobs,
Yet my money seemed to disappear.
I set out to find love and romance,
And found only heartache and despair.
When I read some verses, I knew myself.
Then I wrote some verse, and I found myself.

©Habib Dabajeh

TEARS FALL

As dawn’s gentle light creeps in,
You inhabit my thoughts like a haunting melody.
A deep yearning stirs within me,
Compelling me to craft the perfect verse,
A soothing balm for my frantic heart
And a salve for the heavy burden of your absence
That weighs upon my mind.
With a trembling hand,
I begin to pen a love poem
Upon the delicate leaves of this solitary tree.

I dared to dream that perhaps,
By some unfathomable miracle,
A gust of wind would sweep through,
Performing a wild dance among the branches.
It would read my heartfelt words
And carry them straight to your heart.
Yet, the wind remained still,
Leaving me alone with only
The distant laughter of crows,
Echoing my despair.

III

Nearby, a turtle dove settled with grace,
Offering a soft, soothing song
In an attempt to comfort my aching soul.
But my heart was too entrenched in sorrow,
Unwilling to be swayed by her gentle cooing.
In her delicate presence,
She presented a single feather.
I took it and dipped into my bleeding heart,
Conjuring another love poem
That sought to encapsulate my feelings.

With fervor and bleary eyes,
I inscribed verses of love
Upon yellow rose petals,
Each petal a fragment of my devotion,
Before placing them tenderly into her beak.
I prayed with all my might
That she would find her way to you,
Reminiscent of Noah and the olive branch,
Hopelessly believing it would find you;
But I wasn’t as fortunate as Noah.

I find myself weeping upon this desolate shore,
Entranced by the relentless crashing of waves.
I poured my thoughts into the air,
Contemplating the perfect words
I wished to impart to you.
With a trembling finger,
I traced into the warm sand the simple
Yet profound plea, ‘I need you.’
But the waves, the relentless eradicators,
Came crashing in, taunting my aching heart.

As my silent tears fall,
The wind wails around me,
Twisting like a banshee through the air.
Amidst my desolation, a nightingale alighted nearby,
Gazing with a piercing gaze and cried:
“Weep on, sad and lonely Lover!
There is no road back from lost love.
Hope abandons all the broken-hearted!”
Her haunting words echoed in my soul,
A reminder of the painful truth that enveloped me.

©Habib Dabajeh

A REFLECTION OF UNREQUITED ADMIRATION

Let us acknowledge the remarkable nature of your creation,
Which embodies grace and beauty.
Although my presence may not resonate within your heart,
I find solace in the contemplation of you.

Were I to be the very ground upon which you tread,
I would relish the opportunity
To experience the sensation of your presence;
To feel the joy that remains beyond my reach.

If I had the fortune of being the comb
That gently separates your hair,
I would have the pleasure of knowing
The softness and fragrance that accompany it.

Should I be the lipstick gracing your lips,
I would experience the bliss held dear by lovers.
The intensity of my affection would be overwhelming,
As I succumbed to an ecstasy marked by profound longing.

To witness the brilliance emanating from your eyes
Would be akin to a child nestled against its mother.
I would yearn to feel the warmth of your embrace
And be serenaded by the gentle melodies of your heartbeat.

If I were the pillow supporting your thoughts,
I would aspire to participate in your dreams of happiness.
I would subtly convey hints of my presence,
Hoping that you might acknowledge my existence.

I apologize for indulging in these reveries;
I am merely an idealist.
Should I awaken from this dream,
I would wish to fade into obscurity.

I’m so grateful for dreams!
In your perfect world,
I perceive myself as a mere stone,
Unnoticed as you pass by.

©Habib Dabajeh

BLISSFUL STATE

Nestled beside the crackling fireplace,
I find myself enveloped in your warmth,
My heart seeking refuge against your warm breast
You smile and pull me closer,
Wrapping your arms around me,
Pressing me tightier against your heart,
And in that moment,
I long for time to stand still,
Wishing that this enchanting night
Could stretch on indefinitely.

There’s a childlike tremor in me,
A delicate vulnerability as I relax against you,
Fearing the inevitable moment
When I must release my grip.
The softness of your curves presses gently into me,
Each contour of your body
A soothing balm to my soul.
The intoxicating blend of your warmth and the sweet,
Familiar scents that surround you
Seem to fan the flames of my longing heart,
Each breath I take infused with sensations
Both thrilling and tender.

In this blissful state,
Enveloped by pure ecstasy,
Tears find their way to my eyes,
Quietly spilling upon my heart
As a bittersweet sadness washes over me.
I become aware that dawn will break all too soon,
Shattering this perfect moment,
And ushering in a world that demands our separation.

©H. Dabajeh

DUSTY WALLS

Familiar faces adorn the dusty walls,
Each one an echo of a life lived,
Vibrant and free.
Their smiles radiate warmth,
Piercing through the chill of solitude,
Bringing forth a cascade of sweet recollections
From days gone by.

As I gaze upon them with introspective eyes,
I see not mere images,
But the essence of beauty and truth,
Each expression a fragment of joy,
Reflecting the vivacity of youth,
Reviving the long-buried optimism
Within my weary heart.

These familiar faces peer back at me,
Connecting past and present,
Reminders of the laughter shared
And the fears bravely faced.
I cherished each of them deeply,
And for those who have departed,
I send silent prayers, struggling to hold back the tide of tears.

These beloved faces illuminate my walls—
Their collective joy and the weight
Of their pain I have shared.
Though the vibrant years of youth
May have faded and dulled,
Their timeless smiles persist,
Beneath the layers of dust, glistening bright.

©Habib Dabajeh

HOLD ME

I cherish nightly those exquisite moments
When everything converges all at once,
And aligns in perfect harmony around me–
The gentle burble of a brook
Meandering through the landscape,
Its bubbling water glistening in the sunlight.
The soft, soothing sound of the wind
As it dances through the leaves,
Causing them to rustle
And whisper secrets to one another.
In the distance, the haunting melodies
Of solitary songbirds drift through the air,
Their notes weaving a tapestry of sound
That evokes both melancholy and joy.
A crackling fire in a cozy cabin,
As raindrops rhythmically
Patter against the roof,
Slowly silencing the merry crickets.

Just a few more moments, my love,
Squeeze my head tighter upon your heart,
Where I nightly cherish these exquisite moments.

©Habib Dabajeh

I’M FIXATED

As the heavy rain finally relented,
A soft and playful breeze emerged,
weaving its way through the lush garden.
It tenderly swept past vibrant petals,
as a solitary rose stood defiantly,
Wiggling and dancing,
eager to shake off the droplets of rain.
Gazing out my window,
I’m utterly captivated,
Eyes glued to the enchanting scene
unfolding before me,
As I witness the exquisite beauty
and elegant grace in every gentle sway.
Suddenly, my peaceful reverie is interrupted,
As the bathroom door creaks open,
And she steps out of the shower,
Shaking the wetness from her hair.

©Habib Dabajeh

LEAFLESS TREE

A gnarled, leafless tree stands
In the midst of a vibrant landscape,
Its twisted branches reaching out
Like fragile arms yearning for one final embrace.
Beneath the azure sky,
The tree sways gently in the cool breeze,
Attempting one last dance despite its frailty and age.
The bark, worn and weathered by countless seasons,
Tells a story of resilience,
Yet its strength has long since diminished.
Around it, a chorus of birds gathers,
Their melodious calls ringing through the air
As they pay tribute to an old companion,
Each note infused with memory and nostalgia.
Their vibrant plumage contrasts sharply
With the tree’s stark silhouette,
Creating a poignant atmosphere of reverence.
As the sun begins to set,
Casting golden hues across the landscape,
A plaintive wind sweeps in,
Rustling through the naked branches
As if trying to whisper words of comfort.
Yet, despite its gentle caress,
The breeze brings little solace,
Leaving only the melancholic echo of what once was.

©Habib Dabajeh

LONG CHILLY NIGHT

I’m ensnared by her long and silky hair,
And I can’t break free.

My heart is melting, slowly dissolving in her.
I’m trapped by her scent.

Her soft hands caressing me is unbearable,
And I surrender myself.

My heart is floating, like a feather in the air
Circling above her.

My eyes are closed, and I’m hoping and praying
This is not just a dream.

Through the chilly night she pressed me upon her heart,
And I slept half awake.

The softness of her breasts, and the warmth of her body,
Induced my every emotion.

Though I was in total ecstasy, I wept like a child,
Knowing the dawn will come soon.

©Habib Dabajeh

MOONLIT GARDEN

The persistent melodies of birds resonate from every tree,
As a butterfly struggles to maneuver its wings
Against the gentle breeze sweeping through the meadow.
While nature celebrates and simultaneously torments my heart
With the abundance of beauty surrounding me,
I find it challenging to attain tranquility of mind,
As my thoughts are perpetually consumed by you.

Oh, most remarkable of maidens!
I am rendered inconsequential without your presence.
My words are in eternal tribute to you.
I once occupied the role of your cherished falcon,
Yet you severed my youthful aspirations,
Displacing me from the sanctuary of your heart,
And instructed me to seek my own path to flight elsewhere.

It is August, and a year has elapsed,
As I walk alone through that moonlit garden.
It marks the final occasion my eyes beheld you.
I recall how all the roses appeared to bow in your presence.
How can mere roses claim such exquisite beauty?
Their charm and luster may originate from the heavens,
However, the entirety of heaven derives its brilliance from you.

©Habib Dabajeh

MEMORY WALL

Alone I shivered
Through a bitter winter’s night,
Panting and weeping,
All hope seemingly lost.
As dawn broke,
It mirrored the shattering of my heart,
The remnants of dreams
Fading with the vanishing stars.
Throughout the long, cold hours,
I wept for you,
Yearning for the warmth of your embrace.
In my despair,
I clung to memories of your touch,
Of the safety
And love I felt in your presence.
But now, I languish, broken and alone,
Left only with the ghost of your comfort.
Through tear-blurred eyes,
I gaze upon memories,
Illuminating a wall of bittersweet remembrance.

©Habib Dabajeh

SHE KNOWS NOT OF ME

In the soft glow of night, where stars are abound,
I loved her fiercely, a yearning as vast as the heavens—
My heart, a ghost wandering in the halls of silence,
Chasing echoes of laughter that never reached my ears.
She walked through my dreams like a comet,
A fleeting light, too brilliant to grasp,
And I, a mere flicker in the depths of her world,
Fading like ink on the edge of a forgotten page.

I stood in the corners of crowded rooms,
Admiring the aura weaving around her,
Watching her soft giggle as if it were sweet music,
Yet my own silence echoed louder than a thousand cries.
In the gardens of unspoken love, I nurtured fantasies,
Every glance, a petal falling from the bloom of hope,
Every sigh, a breeze carrying whispers of longing,
Yet she danced obliviously, a queen in her own right.

I wanted to tell her of the poems written in my heart,
Lines that twisted like vines around the oaks of sorrow,
Yet my voice, a fragile leaf caught in the storm,
Failed to reach her realm, I fell back to dreams.
Would she have turned her gaze, if fate had been kinder?
Perhaps she would have seen my heart pounding,
Yearning for a glimpse from her dazzling eyes,
But I was bound to a silence of a love unrequited.

She knows not who I am, a flicker in the backdrop,
An actor without lines in a play unfolding endlessly,
And every moment paints the canvas of my despair,
Each brush stroke, a reminder of what never was.
I loved her, yes, like the ocean loves the shore,
Crashing waves relentless against the rocks of time,
But my heart rests adrift in a sea of forgotten dreams,
Drifting, drifting, where her laughter cannot follow.

So I’ll linger in the corners, a captive of my own making,
Turning each page of sadness, inked in the spine of night.
Perhaps tomorrow, I will find the courage to speak,
But until then, I’ll wear my melancholy like a cloak,
Each thread woven from the whispers of dreams unhinged,
And she’ll remain the untold story that lives in my soul,
A melody played softly, lingering in the empty spaces,
As I love her, endlessly, and still, she knows not of me.

©Habib Dabajeh

SWEET MEMORIES

Sweet memories,
Like morning frost upon autumn leaves,
Begin to melt away with time’s cruel persistence.
I trace the outline of your face in my mind,
Desperately trying to hold onto every detail–
The gentle curve of your smile,
The way your eyes crinkled
At the corners when you laughed.
These fragments of you slip through
My fingers like grains of sand,
Each day taking with it another precious detail
I once swore I’d never forget.
The world continues its relentless spin,
Indifferent to my grief,
While I remain frozen in this moment of loss,
Clutching at shadows of what used to be.
The sun rises and sets,
Marking days I must endure without your presence,
Each sunset a reminder of how far I’ve drifted
From the warmth of your embrace.
In the quiet hours between midnight and dawn,
When the world holds its breath
And time seems to pause,
I find myself reaching across empty sheets,
Searching for a hand that’s no longer there to hold.

©Habib Dabajeh

SYMMETRY

When God heard my prayer for a companion,
He consulted His blueprints of spring and summer.
He used rose petals to shape my lover’s lips,
And from soft lilies, He formed her cheeks.

The light He ordained to greet the day,
And the softer light to bless the night;
That mixture of light He gave her radiant face.

Through a sunlit sky, He sends the rains
And causes a sweet rainbow to appear.
He took those beautiful colors, and mixing them,
He painted the brilliance of her eyes.

He gathered feathers from every angel,
Mingled them with fine silk,
And adding jasmine, He crafted her hair.

Into her ears, He softly whispered
The songs of morning birds,
The dialogue of night crickets,
And she came to understand the language of nature.

From rustling trees to tender songbirds,
And Cherubim glorifying with the sweetest voices;
That mixture of sounds He gave to her.

He then placed her in a lovely rose garden
So she may be among her kind.
He waited, and He is most patient,
Until she absorbed the scent of every rose.

And what a rose she turned out to be!
She smiles, and I abandon all beliefs
And swear upon her peerless grace.

She has silenced my poetic tongue
And caused my verses to falter.
She transformed a lover into a madman
Who babbles words without meaning.

I gaze upon my love now
And relinquish all creeds and beliefs.
All my hopes and dreams rest upon her lips.

©Habib Dabajeh 8/03

THE GARDENER

At times,
I find myself gazing out toward the garden,
Envisioning him there,
Kneeling on the soft earth,
Tenderly tending to the tomatoes,
With soil dusting his hands.
Yet here I stand,
Engulfed in a profound solitude,
My heart shattered into countless fragments,
While my mind cruelly torments me with echoes of what was.

In my dreams,
I often wander back to that once-vibrant garden,
Recalling the vibrant colors and fragrant scents,
Where laughter once danced on the breeze,
And the old pear tree stood majestic and tall,
Its boughs heavy with fruit that glimmered in the sun.

Desperation clings to my thoughts
As I long for a final glimpse,
Hoping for one more vision of the Gardener at work,
Yet in this tranquil yet haunting space,
I see only the empty patches and shadows,
And the Gardener, so dearly missed,
Is nowhere to be found.

©Habib Dabajeh

TRANQUIL MIND

The day I pressed my ear against your heart
Was the day I heard my first love story.
My sighing heart was in a state of bliss
As I lay upon your breast.

During the day, when I was with you,
I felt like a child unwrapping a present.
At night, when you held me close,
The only sound I heard was sweet music.

Now, I ponder my upside-down world
To the point of losing my mind.
The days bring no gifts, the nights are silent,
And piercing memories torment my heart.

You used to wear the prettiest smile,
Which intoxicated my heart.
Your beauty made my tears fall like shiny pearls,
But now they sear my eyes like hot coals.

There is no remedy for lost love,
And memories only induce pain.
I sit in tears and gaze out my window,
Overwhelmed by thoughts of despair.

Love is for everyone, but not for me.
My heart cannot bear another burden.
What I learned from love is to never love again;
A tranquil mind is far more valuable in this chaotic world.

A flashing memory of you strikes my mind,
Irritating my heart, and I want no part of it.
It feels like the buzzing of persistent flies
When all I desire is peace and quiet.

©Habib Dabajeh

YOUR HEART

I am the willing captive in your Heart,
And only you hold the key.
Unknown and hidden from the world,
I’m like a blind infant in your arms.

I hear nothing but your beats of love,
And dwell immersed in your abundant grace.
I know and feel only what you allow,
And happily abide restrained by you.

I hear poets praise a moon out there,
That shines with a soft and tender glow;
But I can only turn my cheek and laugh,
Having been bathed by your radiant face.

They glorify a sun high in the sky,
That glitters with an unequaled brightness;
And I shake my head in disbelief,
Knowing nothing glitters like your eyes.

You have me quelled by your fiery breasts.
You seal my mouth with your tender lips.
The moment I lose air and begin to fade,
Your sweet breath is swift to revive me.

Your body wraps me like a warm blanket.
My hands are bound by your silky braids;
And late at night when hunger strikes,
You offer the honey off your sugary lips.

I’m consumed by you, and I can’t get free.
My every want you so humbly provide.
Whenever I thirst or need to bathe,
I become solely dependent on your tears.

Oh, Butterfly, what is left for me to do,
But fill your heart with love and laughter!
I bathe your heart with kisses sweet,
Then clothe it with a garment of poetry.

BYGONE YEARS

As ominous dark clouds
Begin to unfurl across the sky,
An irritating crow caws from a distant perch,
Its harsh call slicing through the silence,
And I feel more chided than flattered.
The chill in the air intensifies
As the wind picks up, whipping around me
And piercing through my skin.
The leaves are wet and scattered
Upon the damp and frozen ground.
In this strange and unsettling scene,
The once dauntless boy stands,
His courage eroded, now overshadowed
By a sense of trepidation.

As I stand there,
Enveloped in a heavy silence,
My gaze sweeps the gloomy surroundings,
Revealing that things now
Are often more complex than they appear.
The vibrant light and beauty of life
Have faded into shadows,
Drowned in an eerie stillness;
Gone are the familiar sounds of joy and laughter,
Replaced by an uncomfortable void.
I search in vain for a guiding voice
Or a comforting hand,
And in this moment of reflection,
I realize: youth was but a fleeting dream.

©Habib Dabajeh

DUSTY WALLS

©Habib Dabajeh

SWEET BUTTERFLY

There is no beauty
In this world that can compare to yours.
No garden, however lush or vibrant,
Can boast a rose as exquisite and radiant as you!
What miracle of nature could possibly eclipse
The allure that you embody?
Your form, with its elegance and grace,
Transcends the limits of our senses,
Leaving mere mortals in awe.
Tell me, how might I capture your essence in verse,
When you are a thought that dances
Just beyond the reach of perception?

There is no fragrance
That can rival the intoxicating scent that you possess.
No flower in the entirety of creation
Can hold a candle to the aroma
That wafts from your very being.
From the depths of my soul arise a hundred sighs,
Each echoing the longing I feel for you!
And from the core of my heart spills forth a joyful laughter,
As abundant as the summer breeze.
You are a wondrous revelation,
Veiled yet profoundly illuminating,
The wellspring of all my desires.

III

Heaven itself spills down its luminous light,
Smiling upon you with every graceful step you take;
It envelops you in a warm embrace.
Yet, how can there exist a light
That is gentle enough to truly surround you?
You are the epitome of the dream that we poets dare to dream!
When I cry out your name,
It sends a delightful shiver across my lips,
A sensation that lingers in the air.
Even the angels residing in the heavens
Become enraptured by your presence,
Orchestrating endless rainbows to celebrate your beauty!

The birds, usually bursting with song,
Quiet their melodies and alight nearby,
Exhaling jubilant sighs that resonate with the joy you bring.
The moon, high above, cannot help but wane in jealousy,
Seeking refuge behind the clouds,
All the while casting a envious gaze upon your radiant face.
Your simple smile is enough to unsettle the very sun,
Causing it to grow restless in the azure sky,
Stubbornly refusing to set,
As if time itself wishes to linger forever in your grace.
Even the stars begin to emerge,
Dazzling in their brilliance, swirling in a chaotic dance overhead.

They disrupt the well-ordered constellations of heaven,
Straining to catch a glimpse of your eyes as they gaze downward!
Oh, Love! Who could have ever fathomed that the stars
Would shine so luminously during daylight?
Endless verses swirl around in my mind,
Each one pleading for a chance to sing of you,
Yet it’s your melodious song that I yearn to hear!
How long must you taunt my dreams,
Whispering secrets that tantalize my soul?
Oh, Butterfly! I lay my heart wide open before you,
Longing for your sweet kisses
To silence the yearning that resides in my thoughts.