A nightingale
A white rose
A love not meant to be

Forbidden by Allah
Yet the deed is done:
A red rose is born
Of white rose’s form
And nightingale’s thorn-drawn blood.

What words can we use?
How are we to speak of a love
Never meant to be?
A forbidden love
Bringing forth an unexpected gift
To those who have hearts to see
Beauty hidden within the tragedy.

The red rose
Wrought by song and love.
Love so pure, so powerful
Life itself was the price.

A/N: Those who have read Susan Kay's novel "Phantom," a retelling of the classic novel "The Phantom of the Opera" may recall the story of the rose and nightingale. Even if you haven't, this is still a lovely Arabic legend; a heartbreaking tale both on its own and in its parallel to another forbidden love…