Insomnia

For Baharak I cannot see you, because the wall of darkness is thicker than any made of wood or metal. I cannot hear you, because distance swallows sounds, then carpets space in a deep silence which nothing mortal can penetrate. But these are not barriers for us: clouds cannot stop the free flight of birds, and mountains do not block dawn from casting her transparent light into every dark place. And so it is that you and I are both awake in our distant homes and keep vigils while all the others sleep and dream their dreams. Once you watched over your family's restful sleep and their peace and safety filled you with a quiet nocturnal joy. Now it is as if you keep the same wide-eyed vigil but it embraces the whole world with its sympathy, a world plunged into suffering and hate, on the edge of hopelessness, whose people rejoice in the grace of your peaceful gaze.