And one day I discovered me br Acquitted of reality br Far off, entranced within a dream br Chimeras of felicity br A lofty love, a holy beam br A sharper truth, oh Deity! br br In foreign worlds I was, a flare, br Meandering through shaded air br My crystal soul diffused the night br Reverberations everywhere: br “What darkness can compare with light br Sullied with pain and mortal care? ” br br Lighter than breeze I made my way br Ebon espoused to fading grey br In white I was an odditye br Defiling perfection’s array br A query and a sweet reply: br The aether cradles not the clay? ! br br Then halted I afore a scene br A spider in a silver screen br I neared, he said in somber strain br Give ear O mortal to my keen: br Draw forth the quick’ning cup of pain br He dies who shuns the sip of spleen br br He ended and revealed to me br A stream of dazzling clarity br Ablaze with sacred appetite br I drank with full alacrity br He simpered and passed out of sight br I sunk in insobriety! br br br Beirut br November 3rd 1988br br Samer Madbakbr br