Love is universal


Indian women trace with henna
Upon their hands
The name of the man who has stolen their hearts.

The lover paints with kisses,
And the beloved’s body is his canvas.

When you are in love,
You think
Like a master artist—

In London, New York,

And Paris.

When a Scotsman loves with all his being,
He shares his shortbread,
Whisky, and haggis

In every country,
There is a man or a woman
Displaying the very essence of devotion.

Behind curtains and drapes—
Those veils of love—
A Paisley shawl motif in Iran

I believe I understand
This phenomenon called love;

Love means being a woman,
Or a man—someone who can cultivate
a garden around their beloved,

putting an arm around the world.