(A poem inspired by “Wisdom of Royal Glory: Kutadgu Bilig” the Eleventh Century Turk0-Islamic wisdom literature epic written by Yusuf Khass Hajib. Translated by Robert Dankoff, published by University of Chicago Press)
When the ascetic’s bald head bowed having finished her instruction she was silent on her seat beneath the bodhi tree
the Emperor’s advisor, having heard her teaching answered in quiet
he gathered his entourage with a gentle movement of his ringed finger
his attentive camp assembled for travel
The advisor and vizier to the Emperor, ruler to the edges of the world,
the lord Emperor Glorious Dawn, mounted his broad horse regaled in the courtly colors and with standard guard both behind and beside began his return to the marbled palace gates
he rode in thought, reflecting on the wise ascetic’s teaching:
‘all returns to dust, the highest are brought low, all is wind and shadow,death and illness leave none untouched, everything changes, dies, rusts. seek only that which is lasting.’
Sun tied on ritual robes, rubbed saffron in her bathing
Earth filled with dusk dust, the world rested, griefless but wise
Virgo sang rising songs through glowing palms
Sky washed her face with embers and ash and flirted with her mists
flying creatures went to roost and flying creatures took silent wing
walking creatures burrowed and walking creatures hunted
and all living things were silent
and the advisor stopped his caravan for prayers
Mars stepped down from his heights, his Ajaxs settled on their couches
Pleides set their table for feasting
Scorpio lurked in the east
the advisor did not cease his museful riding, though his company weary
the aegis of dawn rested below sky but glowed like armor rusted in
storage
and the advisor stopped their sojourn for prayers
Sky wore her jewels
yellow nightengale tremored her throat in first hesitant testings
Sun showed herself like the laughter of daughters
and the advisor dismounted for prayers
sleepless and road sore, the advisor and his cadre came
at last to the walls of the palace
and passing the guards, the archers, and watchmen
by the cemetary mounds in shadows of empty cisterns
he rubbed his neck
and readied to meet Glorious Dawn
Ryan McGivern
