Steal Me a Paradise

I was rummaging through some old stuff when I came across this art book, where the poet Julie P. Lingan fused with the artist Ibrahim Hussein to create a love-inspired-poetry + poetry-inspired-art book. My mom had bought it years ago as she was a friend of the writer, Julie Lingan. I remember discovering this fascinating book years back and falling in love with the pretty words and black scribbles that filled the pages. The book, called 'Steal Me a Paradise' is based on the last poem, and albeit the best one at that. I admire her other poems such as 'Casablanca Dying' and 'We Must Have Been Lovers in a Previous Life', but 'Steal Me a Paradise' I adore the most. And Ibrahim Hussein's art isn't bad either! He's got an obvious style (well, it might have changed over the years but in this book, it's strictly black, white, + grey, and all scribbly lines as if his pen was being mind-controlled by a tornado) and although I'm not describing it very well, his art is fascinating.

This poem is also the one that inspired me to write, 'oh all the things i'd do for you'.

steal me a paradise

-

steal me a paradise

where we can unlock long-standing dreams

unfurl the velvet of hidden longings

imprisoned by blades of reality and time

-

steal me a paradise

far away from the world of merciless flames

where the only fire we know

is the passion we burn for each other

-

steal me a paradise

where the sky is ruled not by monsters

but by lovers with hearts that fly

in a haven beyond the reach

of control towers and F16s

-

steal me a paradise

where there are no earthshaking quakes

except our very own tremors

we create from love, not hate

-

steal me a paradise

where we can kiss the brink of dawn

and catch the moonlight

as it drips with silverdust

that now and then caress our bodies

lying on the shore

-

steal me a paradise

where you and i can run naked

as the sky on a cloudless blue morning

and frolic like the fish

making love under the sea

-

steal me a paradise

on the edge of spring

and i'll giftwrap the sea for you

with the echoes of an endless summer...