Sincerely,Poems byF.s. Yousaf
Copyright © 2018 Farhan YousafCover design and illustrations by Huma NizamuddinConnect with her on Instagram: @huma.nizAll rights reserved.ISBN: 9781728926599
Dear Reader,Whoever gets their hands on this book, just know that it’smeant for that special someone in my life. This is the book forthe people who carry that same sense of love within you. Thepeople that can light up your days with the simplicity of asmile, and ones you never get tired of. This is for them.Sincerely,f.s. yousaf
To Yusra
S t a m i n aThere have been numerous fights,Some which have left us tornAnd thinking of our end.But love is not loveWithout trials that test endurance.What would we be if we were to quitAt the worst of moments?
SolaceI often remember daysWhen sadness had confiscatedmy mind.Being a man with barelyAny sense of direction,I considered myself hopeless.Instead of being aloneI am in your arms now,Traveling back to serenity.
PatienceMany stand in our way,Refusing to let us liveThe life we have always envisioned.But as long as we have resilienceAnd faith,We will never be stopped.
AcknowledgeI would be a fool to compareYour presence to thatOf a candle towering valiantly in a dark room,Acting as a guide as some would say.You would eventually burn out,Leaving me alone with no sense of direction.You are closer to a starOn an unpolluted night,Making your way to meNo matter the distance.And even though you mayBecome sheathed at times,Knowing you are always thereBrings me a sense of relief.
LoveShe became the occupant of my mind,the beat of my heart,and the tranquility in my soul.She became my life,My solace,The best person I ever knew.
CarryYou found my drunken, hopeless bodyIn the middle of the night,And while the world left natureTo deal with my remains,You took me into your careAnd nurtured me to strengthBehind every great man there is a greater woman.Behind me there was you.
ResilientOne of the very qualitiesI loved about youWas your bond with God,And how it was unwaveringEven in the fiercest of storms.That no matter what happened,Your faith did not falter,and you accepted thatyou were never alone.
VoyageTake me to the placesWhich I have never seen,
And tell me the storiesOf their past.Teach me the many ways to live,More so than I have ever known.
PersevereLife tends to throw
Stones at you,But your kindness and strengthSomehow turn those stonesInto words of perseveranceFor people who need it most.
SownShe came into my lifeTo show meThat mere momentsCan create lasting memories.
She revived my hopeless eyes,So I could seeThe true beautyThe world held.
GraspHolding your handWas an art that evenI could not understand.But I would have given all the timeI had to master it.
HookedThe first thing I fell in love withWas the way you wrote,So sweet,So innocent,Light on my mind
And had me highAll the time.
Past-TimeLoveless lies / Lustful eyes.That was all I was familiar withUntil you arrived before me.And I would be lying to youIf I told you I still do not think
Of that time before,But only to compare to my happiness now,And how much I wish I found you sooner.
LastingI have jumped from home to homeMy whole life.Stability is the last thought on my mind,But I have hopeThat you could be my homeFor as long as I live.
CompanionWhen you crumble,I hurt with you.But I do not stand by idly.I will extend my handsAnd attempt to catch every pieceAs you fall.I will be by your side as youRebuild, and even help youIn the process.You are half of me,A purer, gentler half.I am not whole when you
Are not whole yourself.
An Ode To YouWhen I first saw youI could hardly pull my eyes off you,Leaving me full of emotion,Leaving me breathless.You left me wondering,Over a hot cup of coffee,Under the beaming sun outside my favorite café.Maybe you could be the person I spent my life looking for,And carried the power to change my life for the better. IRolled the dice once, IRolled the dice twice, and yet,You would refuse to leave my mind.Maybe you could be good for me,Even destiny could be pointing towards your name.(Now read every single letter at the beginning of eachsentence…)
FulfillmentI cannot recallA stressful silenceTaking over for our words.She was thrilled to see me,As I was in awe of her.And togetherWe both felt utterly complete.
SenseYou knew it was a lie,Even when I pleaded“I’m fine, I promise”You could tellBy the wayMy eyes danced with anxiety.And I am forever gratefulThat you know every inch of me.
LettersI always told myselfThat I could not possiblyFall in love with you more.But here you are,Proving me wrong once again.
VisionOnce we harmonized,Your goals and dreamsAlso became mine.And I so dearlyWanted to see youAchieve them all.
September 7, 2015Skipping over the bridge,Hands wide out,Grey cardigan drifting in the windWhile I smiled behind you. Here I see someone,Someone I had been patient withFor a long time.Not a bad patient,But a good patient.I saw our love blossom,Like a rose in spring.Firm, strong, and beautiful.My heart beat for you Every second and every day.You leaned on me,And we talked about our days And what else we could accomplish.I felt your heart in sync with mineAnd I never wanted to let go.Twirling, hands in the air,Dancing in the cool summers breeze.Walking, talking, standing real close.I prayed this was something That would get stronger As time goes.
AttainThe love would flow in the air,Finding its way to everyone besides myself.And while there was a clear lack of love on my skin,I found that drowning my sorrows outIn medication and temporary passionSufficed my longing for what would never arrive. And yet, I was wrong.I became even more fulfilled than I could ever imagineWhen god sent a love that would never dwindleThroughout time.
High NoonYou may be afraid to love fullyBecause of how temporary this life is,So let’s make memoriesThat will bloom in usNo matter how longOr short we live.
Former Stories / Better ConclusionsYou were the girlI wanted to impress through my writing,For I knew that normal words would not workWith you.You were special,And craved the kind of loveThat crazy, spontaneous writers had,The ones that only resideIn history books.Of course,I pray our story does not end like theirs.I only desire happiness for us.
ReleaseHaving to admitThat you had becomeAn important part of meWas a liberating,Yet terrifying moment.I would redo itAll the same.
UnfamiliarI am so entirely filled with loveThat I feel guiltOver not being able to share theseEmotions with others.As if I am finally being floodedAfter years of being barren,All while knowing others do not feelThe sweet liberation of compassionI will never get used to this splendor.
VibranceFalling Autumn leavesTend to remind me of you.You made the descent look beautiful,And brought colorTo the very groundYou fell on.
Our DaysYour scent lingers on meLong after you have departed.It tells me the storyOf our day spent together,And I enjoy thinking back to it,Since it will be yet another distant memoryCome tomorrow.My mind carries your distinct fragrance,
A humble reminder that I amNowhere near you at the moment.
DifferenceA better lifeWas one of the manyThings you offered me,And they were the most pleasant wordsI had ever heard.
S a v i o rYou saved meFrom the dangers of my mind,Your handWas the only oneThat could reach me.
RenewalI was toldThat the feelings would die down.But here I am,Excited for every new dayI get to spend with her.
RecallWhen our paths crossed,I felt as if we had metIn another time.Your laugh had me in thought,Your smile had me dreaming,And your joyLeft me in awe.
AmazeThere is something so sweetAbout the way your voice soundsEarly in the morning.It reminds me of a timeWhen I believed that happinessWas unreachable.But here I am,Astonished by the wayYou make me feel.
FlourishThe love I cherish mostIs in the formOf an eternal flame.Through wind and storms,Rising,And never dwindling.
ImmersedOur letters of loveBecame the bridgeTo deeper understanding.A placeWhere ordinary wordsCould not survive.
EndeavorI acknowledge thatI may become a negative person,But when someone hurls negativity at me,I do my utmost best to be positive in that situation.I do it for reasons unbeknownst to myself.I acknowledge that negativity may barge throughYour barriers and anchor you down,And when that happens I intend on being positiveFor both our sakes.I may fail, but I will try and try againUntil I get it just right.
We got whatever comes our way.
AcceptanceI felt your presenceEven in my most lonesome moments.What an opportune timeTo recognize your love.
