I Am Your Attire, and You Are Mine

"I am your good fortune, and you are my destiny,

I am your attire, and you are mine.

"Love is a strange thing—where can we escape?

I am near you, and you are near me.

"I have forgotten myself for your sake,

The entire world is ordinary to me; only you are special.

"My lips remain sealed, covered in layers of dust,

Even though you are with me, my thirst remains unquenched.

"Since the moment people started coming between us,

I became lonely, and you became restless.

"The world cannot separate us—it is impossible,

If I am the nail in love, then you are the flesh.

"Even in distance, there is no true separation,

I am close to you, and you are close to me.

"Who stands between us, my love?

That I have become heartless, and you are drowning in sorrow.

"My life revolves only around you,

The entire world is ordinary; only you are special.

"Love is a strange thing—no matter where I go,

I am still near you, and my thirst remains unquenched.

Explanation of the Poem

This poem by Wasi Shah beautifully captures the themes of deep love, emotional intimacy, longing, and the inseparable bond between two souls. The poet uses powerful metaphors to express how love transcends physical presence, making two lovers feel like an essential part of each other, even in separation.

Unbreakable Bond and Intimacy

The poet begins by calling himself his beloved’s attire and vice versa. This metaphor highlights their closeness and deep emotional connection, suggesting that they are each other’s protection, comfort, and identity. Love has made them inseparable, both physically and emotionally.

Love as an Inescapable Force

The poet describes love as a strange entity, questioning where they can escape from it. This reflects how love binds them so strongly that neither distance nor circumstances can truly separate them. He reassures his beloved that, despite everything, they are still close to each other.

Sacrifice and Devotion

A significant theme in this poem is self-sacrifice. The poet expresses that he has forgotten himself for the sake of his beloved, indicating the depth of his love and devotion. For him, the entire world has become ordinary, and only his beloved remains special and significant. This showcases how true love makes everything else seem irrelevant.

Unquenched Thirst – Love and Longing

Even though the poet is near his beloved, he still feels a deep thirst, symbolizing unfulfilled love or emotional yearning. This could imply that despite their closeness, something remains missing—perhaps emotional connection, understanding, or a desire for deeper affection. This metaphor effectively captures the pain of longing in love.

Barriers Between Lovers

The poet laments how people have come between them, leading to emotional distance. This reflects real-life struggles where external influences—society, misunderstandings, or circumstances—create barriers in love. This interference has left him lonely and his beloved restless, signifying the impact of these obstacles on their relationship.

Eternal Connection – Love Beyond Separation

Despite the physical or emotional distance, the poet asserts that the world cannot separate them. He uses the metaphor of "If I am the nail in love, then you are the flesh", symbolizing pain, unity, and an unbreakable connection. Just as a nail and flesh remain together even through pain, so do the lovers, bound by their emotions.

Love’s Strange Nature – Closeness and Distance

In the final verses, the poet once again reflects on love’s paradoxical nature. Even if they are far apart, they remain close in spirit. Love is so powerful that no matter how much they try to move on, the longing remains. This reinforces the idea that true love is not dependent on physical presence but on the deep emotional bond that transcends all barriers.

Conclusion

This poem beautifully expresses the depth of love, the pain of separation, and the struggle between longing and reality. Wasi Shah masterfully conveys how love is both fulfilling and tormenting, making one feel complete yet incomplete at the same time. It is a poetic tribute to the power of love, emphasizing that true connections never fade, no matter the distance.