Ruins of the Citadel at Balkh & the Green Mosque

Ransacked by Gengis Khan in the twelth century.

Today the Green Mosque - although partially destroyed is still an oprating religous centre.

One of the tombs near the Green Mosque belongs to the a poet princess named Rabia Balkhi. The story of her death is tragic – as she was martyred by her brother because she wanted to marry a Turkish slave. While incarcerated on the wall of her dungeon she wrote in her own blood:
“I pray God you fall in love
With someone as cold and indifferent as you
Then you may understand
The pain of love, the suffering and torture of separation
And you may appreciate my devotion.”

So perhaps in this case not unrequited but lost.

Rumi the renowned Sufi and poet who was born near here. His love was more his relationship with God than a physical being. In a sense this kind of love is always unrequited. But he teaches those who know how to love God- in a sense - need nothing else. Here is a poem entitled "Call of Love";

At every instant and from every side, resounds the call of Love: We are going to sky, who wants to come with us? We have gone to heaven, we have been the friends of the angels, And now we will go back there, for there is our country. We are higher than heaven, more noble than the angels: Why not go beyond them? Our goal is the Supreme Majesty. What has the fine pearl to do with the world of dust? Why have you come down here? Take your baggage back. What is this place? Luck is with us, to us is the sacrifice!... Like the birds of the sea, men come from the ocean--the ocean of the soul. Like the birds of the sea, men come from the ocean--the ocean of the soul. How could this bird, born from that sea, make his dwelling here? No, we are the pearls from the bosom of the sea, it is there that we dwell: Otherwise how could the wave succeed to the wave that comes from the soul? The wave named 'Am I not your Lord' has come, it has broken the vessel of the body; And when the vessel is broken, the vision comes back, and the union with Him.