Needing God
“I call to God in times
of powerful need
I look to God in times
of wonderful need
Love that turns “need” positive
and words that turn “want”
Does heaven know it
devours her need?
Answer clear from heaven
Where oceans part power
My upturned mouth is formed
With words-
an allowable need.
Once again, I utilize the ghazal to showcase devotion to God. In Persian devotional poetry (the ghazal), the main theme is love: there is a search beyond the perception of rational meaning. The narrator represents the loved, God is the lover, and wine tends to act as a symbol of love. Becoming wine drunk and intoxicated acts as a metaphor for becoming overwhelmed by the love of God. In this way, the ghazal is a powerful tool is showcasing an interpretation of Islam that is focused on love as opposed to violence or hatred as conceived by some actors in the West. Love is seen as something that will complete a person and make them whole, just as God does. Satisfaction is something that is not regarded in a negative light but showcased as being attained when convening with God. I focus on “needing” in this section to display the power of devotion many have, and the way it might become unsatiable when compared to worldly experiences of love.