An Ode to Shahrzad
By Narges Cyroos
7 February 2009

Old stories have an element of timelessness as well as teaching us valuable lessons every time they are looked at with fresh eyes!

Shahrzad’s tale and her encounter with the king is one such story. On the outset it captures the heart and soul of the listener and on a deeper level the power of love can be touched.

The story is about a king that was once betrayed by his wife. He then decides to take revenge on beautiful women by sleeping and then slaying them.

Once Shahrzad is brought to the king her fate is not any different from the rest when she confronts a man consumed with rage and revenge. She also feels remorse for her unfulfilled wishes.

Shahrzad by turning her attention inside and praying for an end to her ordeal hears an inner voice that guides her to narrate a story for the king. The story is then told from a well of love deep within Shahrzad.

The king after hearing the story is then lost for words and decides to spare Shahrzad’s life so that she can return another night to tell another tale…and so that 1001 nights of story telling in which the king is transformed through the power of love and storytelling…

Oh love oh mighty love, I am at your mercy
Despite you filling my cup every moment of every day
My thirst is not quenched
Have mercy on me
Fill me, fill me fill me
Oh dear dear dear love


Dedicated to my friend Venkatesh