______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Editor’s note: This poem is a “ghazal”, an ancient poetic form originating in 7th Century Arabia.

Selected byRaymond Huffman
Image credit:Layla visits Majnun in the wilderness. From the "Khamsah", Five Poems (Quintet) of Amir Khusro; 14th century AD
Peter J. King
Peter J. King

I was active on the London poetry scene in the 1970s as poet, publisher, editor, performer, broadcaster, and events organiser.  I returned to poetry in 2013 after a long absence (during which I continued translating Greek poetry, as well as performing in various bands around Oxford).  I've since published four collections, as well as appearing widely in journals and anthologies.  I also translate poetry, mainly from Greek (with Andrea Christofidou) and German, write short prose, and paint.