I, Shah Jehan, lie on my dying bed
And dream, beloved of my royal wives,
While all the sons misfortune ever bred
Conspire, or plot to take each other’s lives.
The night I first set eyes on thee, my love,
Is clear and precious as the morning rays
That penetrate the carven screen above
This couch, where I am bound to end my days.
From marble, white as finest ivory,
I built a palace fit for thy remains –
Four minarets in perfect symmetry
To guard thee, sleeping after mortal pains.
By Allah’s will it stands, from life to life,
In beauty, lesser always than my wife.
Author notes
I looked down the list and realised something...
...The Taj Mahal is the only one of these wonders inspired by LOVE. For that reason alone, it stands head and shoulders above the rest. So I wrote this sonnet in honour of the Lady for whom it was built, in order to remind readers what love can inspire.
(The background photo was taken, I believe, by Howard Davies)
Written October 22nd, 2006
In a list
- Sonnets, sonnets, and more bloody sonnets • next in list
- Published works • next in list
- Trashed! Good poems that never reached the podium • next in list
A contest entry
- The New 7 Wonders of the World by ea.
300 points, ended October 25, 2006, 17 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 24 of 24
-
Dear Mari
I love historic poems, they keep those times fresh and oftentimes timeless. Beautiful sonnet. I think that is what the Shah's intention was also.
Regards,
John
-
-
Thanks for the visit and the appreciation, John.
-
-
Congrats, my lady! You are a New World Wonder!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070707/ap_on_re_eu/new_seven_wonders
-
-
Deservedly so too (the building, not me!)
-
-
Awww, you always have such interesting sonnets, I guess that is the point of contests though, eh? To help us out with things to write about. This sonnet is beautiful!
-
-
Well that is true, but on the other hand I hardly ever enter contests, except when the theme coincides with something I have in mind. Thank you for the compliment.
-
-
That would be wonderful!
-
I have alerted the New7Wonders website to these poems and hope they will be sending some pilgrims this way in the coming months.
-
Glad you enjoyed it.
-
Im am up for inspiring of love at this moment. NOt that I am without, but that it is in need of gentle hands right now. :0 Thanks for this write.
-
It is - it's a great story - would make a wonderful film. Writing this one didn't come easy to me because I was forcing myself to write to order, but I am glad you appreciated it.
-
deftly done, and, oh, soooo romantic.
-
I think I had one of those too.. and I seem to recall having an album with gummed "stamps" to collect of all these wonders - my favourite was always the statue of the Amida at Kamakura, Japan, and I am sorry to see that isn't shortlisted. Perhaps I should suggest it as a write-in? Well, you seemed to like the poem, ea, so thank you.
M. -
the one place I dreamed of going when I was small -- it has since lost out in favor of wilder spots, but your sonnet is a lovely tribute to what must have been a grand passion indeed. Funnily, I think I knew about the Taj as well as some of the ancient original 7 wonders through a Magic VIEWFINDER. Thanks for your participation and I hope you'll leave this in; I look forward to all of us coming back to the contest next summer 7/7/07 to see how our choices matched up with the world vote.
-
Oh the full love story of Shah Jehan and Mumtaz, and the building of the Taj Mahal, is fascinating, DP. I am glad you liked the poem, and thank you.
-
this is interesting, and wonderful, i like it, i mean i never heard of it before but i am glad you have written such a beautifuly poem you did a great job, keep it flowing and good luck in the contest
-
Thank you, Melodies (but wait until you see who I have on hand for the costume party!
)
-
Thank you KB
-
So FINE
Sounds wonderful... looks beautiful... IS LOVELY! You are so good with history-based poems. The subject of this is such a good choice! Glad to see this in a contest.
-
Love can inspire wonderful things. This is a great write, good luck in the contest.
*Ktulu Blackwolfe* -
It's worth a try, Poe!
-
All for the love of a good women, amazing what love can inspire,
monuments that last the test of time, long after the physical has faded. The only thing love inspired inside my hubby, is to build
me a new bathroom vanity.. not the Taj Mahal, certainly..
but to me just the same. Maybe I should show him your
amazing sonnet.. then tell he to get building some more. lapoe.
-
Many, many thanks, Belle.
-
I enjoyed your sonnet with its wonderful presentation. Yes, the Taj Mahal is the symbolism of love and passion, so perfectly stated! All my best to you,
Belle
Adding your comment:
1 - 24 of 24
