A Love That Can Never Be

A Ghazal about unrequited love

Our lives had come together then, by chance;
connecting in need, trust fostered my chance.

I cared for her, calming a troubled mind,
drawn to her I did not dare deny chance.

Unique is the beauty of autism,
pushing against boundaries that belie chance.

Fate had taken her ability to know;
stolen what would be needed to try chance.

Then fate's tears fell on our disabled hearts ...
one in the same, destiny did cry chance.

We were forbidden by care's principles ~
accepted, yet, wished to crucify chance!

I could not ignore what I had been taught,
though, our love had no choice but defy chance.

My fears were hopes that what can never be,
could hide behind crumbling walls, whereby chance,

suddenly carried her life far away.
I, William, was left to ask why, chance?

2023

Author's Note

Didn't I write a senryu awhile back called, 'Naked Poet'? I stand before you in the buff. It's possible, that I might have, kinda sorta, maybe, fallen in love with a girl with autism I worked with for a long time. I wouldn't be the first caregiver to struggle with barriers and principles. As had been planned she moved, and the pain of that relief is something I'll never forget.

A Ghazal (pronounced guzzle) is an ancient form of Arabic poetry. The subject should be about spirituality or love. Lost or unrequited love. It is written in couplets called Shers or Beits. Each couplet ends with the same word, except the first where both lines do, and the rhyme lands just before that word. The rhyme pattern is: aa, ba, ca, da, ea, etc. There should be at least five, but no more than fifteen couplets. In the last, the poet names themselves. There is no requirement for meter, but the count you begin with should be maintained throughout the poem. A Ghazal is meant to be sung. Every part of the form has a name. If you are interested in more info ask or search it. It's a fascinating form.

Reviews

[Patricia]

without reading the aouthor's note i write this is full of heart and soul, it makes one wonder about the writer, but I never go there cuz I get to entranced in where it takes me, I think that is the point of poetry but sometimes, just sometimes one wants to know the poets heart behind the poem....again, not read the authors note, I think I will skip it this time, It might take away the magic, :)

[William Michael Reeves]

You make a good point about the point of poetry. And I'm sure we're all different. I like the notes an author adds to their poetry. I find it frustrating to only have my impression of a poem. I like the background of inspiration and dedication. My notes for this poem are pretty important and more personal than most I've written. I wouldn't be the first to struggle with boundaries. Since you are a nurse you can understand how important boundaries are. Professionalism won this battle. I can hold my head high about that, but it doesn't change the feelings that I felt the need to write about. I don't think reading these notes would ruin anything, just explain.

[Ken Simm.]

Sad poetry and a sad emotive subject that does not take anything away from the beauty of the piece.

[William Michael Reeves]

When I thought to write about unrequited love, this episode in my life came right to mind. It was sad, but could have been much worse if I hadn't kept my perspective about me. I appreciate that you found the poem to be beautiful. There's a certain grace about this form. Thanks Ken

Bill

[Cherrie Palmer]

Poetry at its best is raw and heartfelt and exposes the soul.

[William Michael Reeves]

This was all of that and more Cherrie. I was hoping you'd find this one considering how familial you are with autism. Surprise is around every turn in the spectrum. I was surprised to find myself writing it, but felt it needed to be written. Thank you

[lightsong]

I can't believe how "Her" has changed the whole ambience of the poem, gave it that magical sentimental needed touch. the latest few changes You did made the poem more clearer, and sure Billigami must play somewhere (crucify chance, with Bill's famous "!") or else it won't be a William's poem.

Thank You for your interest, enthusiasm and trying out one of our ancient and famous styles.

[William Michael Reeves]

The power one word can wield is pretty amazing. We can change time and perception. Tense and possession. Create worlds with words, each with their own gravity and ability to pull a reader into the magic of sentiment. Drown them in primal brew ~ a divine death!

Thank you for your inspiration and dust. I lay my pen at your feet in hope that I may be knighted.

[Nima.Hope]

Dear Bill, your story in form of Ghazal was so touching and made me emotional. What happened to that poor girl?
I guess you won't find anyone rather me in being involved with Ghazal. Persian Poetry is based on Ghazal and the top three Ghazal poets are Persian including: Hafez Shirazi, Saadi Shirazi and Hatef Ispahani.
I am so thankful to you for the reviews you gave me dear Bill, I'm gonna introduce you a Hafez Ghazal and if you liked it you can search for the translation:
یاری اندر کس نمی بینیم یاران را چه شد؟
دوستی کی آخر آمد دوستداران را چه شد؟
آب حیوان تیره گون شد خضر فرخ پی کجاست
خون چکید ا�™ شاخ گل، باد بهاران را چه شد؟
شهر یاران بود و خاک مهربانان این دیار
مهربانی کی سر آمد شهریاران را چه شد؟

[William Michael Reeves]

Thank you Nima. If I can make the reader get emotional the work that goes into a poem becomes worthwhile. The girl moved. I was working with a client who has cerebral palsy and just by chance ended up working with Ripley when the pandemic hit because she used my client's house for respite. Long before I met them her parents had planned to move her, and that day finally came. It was a painful thing for all concerned but inevitable. There is much more to the story which is in a couple of my other poems. Shrouded In A Why, which is at the bottom of my first page. And 'Ripley's Rose', which is on my first or second page.

I'll be working on the translation. I found the history of Ghazal to be fascinating. Glad you felt my poem.

[Nima.Hope]

It's really an honor for me to know you sir. I will translate some Beits if I can. It's a very academic work to translate Hafez.
I'll visit the two poems you mentioned ASAP.
Have a nice day

[lightsong]

Good Morning Both of You~

What's the title of Hafiz's poem Nima?

[Nima.Hope]

Wow, the three musketeers are on the same page😊.
Here is the link to the best website for Persian Poetry. I have a suggestion,: you enter the link and on the website, do right click and then translate the page via Google Translate. Google Translate is not the best but it can help very much.

[Nima.Hope]

https://ganjoor.net/hafez/ghazal/sh169

[Nima.Hope]

https://ganjoor.net/hafez/ghazal/sh169

[William Michael Reeves]

The Three Musketeers! I like that very much Nima. Our pens are swords. Together we march into the words to do battle with the empty page and fill hearts with phrases to last for eternity, or at least until no one is left to read. I'll be translating and clicking and reading. Thank you.

We have been dusted by the Poetess Omnipotess. Breathe deep!!

[lightsong]

Omnipotess says, though She doesn't understand not even one single word of Hafiz's words there, but She thinks He is mighty and handsome that She assigned Him as Her First Knight~

[William Michael Reeves]

Hafiz has therefore been knighted! First of Her dominion ... Her pages, should she choose to return??

[Nima.Hope]

You're welcome Bill.
Hafez is the master of poetry, but the only problem is that you can enjoy his poems completely when you know Persian Language, because he uses very complicated similes and and many of them do not make sense in English, so the translator must be really skillful to change the similes in a way which is suitable and literate for the English speaker reader. That's the reason why Hafez is less known in West comparing to Omar Khayyam and Molawi(Rumi). Rumi and Khayyam have been translated by very talented translators and also their poem is less complicated than Hafez.
Sadly, because Iran doesn't have a good picture in the globally, no one goes for learning Persian. They instead learn Korean or Japanese which have less amounts of produced literature comparing to Persian.

[John the Baptist]

Interesting poetic form used here. Ironically, or maybe deliberately, the repeated word is "chance" which is something I understand autistic people can't stand, for control is all important to them. Indeed, it is playing with fire to become romantically involved with a patient. There are just too many hazards in the path for happy endings to prevail.

[William Michael Reeves]

The whole thing was all about chance. It put me in that position. It ruined what might have been for us. It saved me as my will weakened by the onslaught of her obsession with me. When I discovered this form and the rules for subject matter I found myself writing about what I never thought I would. My will and training won the battle, by chance.

[willweb]

A beautiful but sad poem that really touches the heart, right or wrong, we cannot dictate what the heart feels. Wonderfully written. I hadn't seen this form before, very interesting.

[William Michael Reeves]

Do search it for more info than what's in my notes. I like the history of all these classical forms of poetry as much as the form. You put the pen, the black one thereon your desk that writes of lost loves, (not the highlighter. It writes of loved love) on the thing I was trying to convey in this poem. Love is not a choice. It is unconditional, and chance will find it where it will ... web. Thank you!

[Betty Hermelee]

A beautiful poem (i read the description ) ( I used to work with kids with autism, it depends where on the scale they fall) Unrequited love is what we strive for in life; but sometimes there are barriers that for some reason this love does not bond. Then we have mixed feelings about the decision we made...or it's made for us in this case.... An exquisite write W.
Best, B

[William Michael Reeves]

That's the thing about autism, it takes decisions away. Decisions about behavior and safety. And it doesn't allow for the opportunity to make a decision that require an eye on all facets of choice. You are right, the spectrum is wide and we are all on it!

[William Michael Reeves]

Thanks Betty. Exquisite is a nice compliment for one of the most personal poems I've written. Thanks B

B

[Betty Hermelee]

You did a great job. With this, difficult emotions to scribe.
Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

nicely done...my niece is autistic, but severely.

but for someone who is not...can love work? I ask, why not?

[William Michael Reeves]

That's a complicated question to ask. The answers are as unique as people. In my case the energy I got was obsession. But could she admire me? No. Could she share my interests? No. But how do you not love someone who's life you're changing. Took everything I had to stay behind that wall and fortunately she was gone before it crumbled. I can hold my head up knowing I was stronger than myself.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

when we can be stronger than ourselves...there is victory in that...and maybe some peace as well.