GABRIEL AND SATAN
after Iqbal
Gabriel
All right, mate. Dish out the dirt.
Satan
Suffering, seeking, yearning, burning
I have the strength of hopelessness
Gabriel
Heavens! Will you ever return?
Satan
No bazaars, Jaguars, rouge et noir—
Bestow these gated lawns on the pious
Gabriel
Angels are bright still, after all.
Satan
From my despair: Gods’ fire.
I am the warp of wisdom’s robe.
by Rafiq Kathwari, the present winner of the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award.