Marundu’s Thousand Veils

Description: this piece was inspired from this poem. The “Veil” theme externally relates to the modesty of women, a custom that disturbs many materialists but which has been observed worldwide in many noble traditions for eons. Also there is a deeper meaning to the “Veil” theme here: unceasantly, the veils that conceal the mysteries of existence lift themselves for the soul to dance through and to revel in its pure state of bliss. The reverence of wise souls come from the beholding of this divine reality… In my maternal culture, “Marundu” is the name of a Princess which is in this context an allegory for the soul as it innately is royal due to its properties, attributes, origin and its capability to move beyond limits… this painting developed gently in a dreamlike way.

~ Marundu’s Thousand Veils ~

Bismillah, Love compels us
to circle in bliss like
the universe and its spheres.
We mingle with every atom

that exists only to entice the soul
to its Beloved. Come, let us
meet on the edge of Al Fatiha!
Come and hear the Music of Light,

Let us dangle from Inertia,
palms upon the ground
like the Christ (as),
we bow in Islam,

secrets interwoven with secrets
we endure Al Khidr’s (as) company,
our hearts leaping from body to body
we gather around the Word,

we are these lovers whose existence reveals
the thousand veils Marundu wears.
Lo! The Moon begins its praises of The Divine:
“Al hamdulillah il rabil alamin!

I curve in silver to lit
the awakened lovers
upon their prayer mats,
their lips upon the angels’

as suras unite all creation
women reflect Mary’s (as)
universal style, institutions
aim to ban modesty, still

the light envelops humanity
with its infinite kisses.”
Suddenly we long to retreat,
Somebody else will continue this…

© 2007 Aïda Touré.