The Great Mosque of Paris



The Great Mosque of Paris
By William He

Plume on a string of glass beads,
Fountain weaving a peculiar tale,
Clusters of wisteria climbing up the walls.
Evening breeze ruffles pool water,
A current of cool air is blowing,
Drawing the hearts to the Divine here and now.
Wilted scoparius haunting humans all through.
Life's tune lost in the tunnel of time.

No future in sight.
No present in hand,
He is frantic with distress,
A phantasm flickers,
Memories cry in his wounded depth.
Every starlit night is a struggle,
Where pathway leads into,
Desolateness dawns upon him.
In the soul of the Muslim,
What Isra And Miraj is,
The way for him is always long.
Sobbing to Allah in broken lives,
The exuded aura illumining his heart.

法曲献仙音 巴黎清真寺
作者:何威廉

絮落花窗,
泉喷烟树,
蔓引紫萝栖壁。
风绕前池,
又添凉气,
真主谁家相恤。
更金雀花矜恻。
言无尽追忆。

断蓬迹。
褐衾单、
暗愁似织,
流梦幻、
祈祷泪空横臆。
星月坐难眠,
恨飘零、
抱影兢惕。
若水生涯,
怎升霄、
怅望梗涩。
念恩风乍现,
唤拜古兰光溢。

About this poem

A deeply introspective and emotive exploration of spirituality, humanity, and the quest for meaning in a world fraught with uncertainty. Through its vivid imagery and poignant reflections, the poem invites readers to contemplate the interplay between the physical and the spiritual, the transient and the eternal, within the sacred confines of the mosque. The poet reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the feeling of being lost in time's tunnel. This existential angst is palpable as the lead grapples with the absence of a clear future and the overwhelming weight of the present moment.  

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Written on April 12, 2023

Submitted by chinamcc8 on December 04, 2023

Modified by chinamcc8 on April 24, 2024

53 sec read
1,246

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX XXXXXXAX XXXXXXABBXXXX
Closest metre Iambic dimeter
Characters 1,139
Words 178
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 2, 8, 13, 2, 8, 13

William He

 · 1961

William Yu He graduated from two of the most prestigious law schools in China respectively, also studied in Heidelberg, Cambridge and Harvard. He has published dozens of classical poems and lyrics in Chinese language. Three of his poems were collected in the antholog “call my name and I 'll be there" published in February, 2024. He is know for five of his poems included in the anthology in English "Dancing on Moonbeams" published in USA in September, 2024. He already published his English poetry anthology "Eyes Wide Open: Poems by William He" in USA. The Incumbent President of China quoted his classic poem in 2017. The President of Harvard University recognized his achievements in June, 2021. more…

All William He poems | William He Books

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Discuss the poem The Great Mosque of Paris with the community...

3 Comments
  • Xuan-An
    your poetry is always stunning
    LikeReply1 month ago
  • fafafafa
    I think Isra And Miraj can be revised as Isra and Miraj.
    And what does the flower scoparius connotate?
    from AI:
    Isra and Mi'raj refers to the Night Journey and Ascension, which is a significant event in the Islamic faith. According to Islamic tradition, it was during this event that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken by the angel Jibril (Gabriel) from the Kaaba in Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is known as the Isra. From there, he ascended through the seven heavens to meet with Allah (God), which is referred to as the Mi'raj.

    During this journey, the Prophet was given instructions regarding the daily prayers and other aspects of Islamic worship. The Isra and Mi'raj is celebrated by Muslims annually during the month of Rajab on the 27th night, an event known as Laylat al-Mi'raj or the Night of Ascension. It is considered a spiritual journey and a demonstration of the Prophet's faith and trust in God, and it holds great symbolic importance in Islam.

    The line "In the soul of the Muslim, What Isra And Miraj is, The way for him is always long" suggests that just as the Prophet's journey was one of perseverance and spiritual growth, so too is the path of every Muslim in their quest for faith and understanding. The metaphor implies that the spiritual journey is ongoing and requires continuous effort and dedication.
     
    LikeReply5 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      It seems to me that you
      get help from AI.......
      LikeReply5 months ago
  • israel_u
    Ships sail with gentle winds, just as whirlwinds wreck great ships.
    LikeReply6 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      It seems to me that you
      get help from AI.......
      LikeReply5 months ago
    • chinamcc8
      Sorry for the mistake.
      LikeReply5 months ago

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"The Great Mosque of Paris" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Dec. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/174857/the-great-mosque-of-paris>.

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