O’ youth hear me / my tragedy / when you mourn and remember
Hear my story / hear my glory / and help me live forever
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
O’ youth when you recall me and for me weep
The lessons of my story in your tears keep
I saw my uncle alone and wouldn’t sleep
I tell you, the tears he shed, angels would sweep
Feeling guilty / Ramla saw me / take Hassan’s armour and shield
She cried for me / none could make me / throw down my sword and yield
I told my mother please let me… leave this tent and my death attain
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
O’ youth know by two names I was left in awe
I’m young, but I can’t explain the things I saw
For years, for a man named Ali, tears would pour
The pride of his name, every man near me wore
I saw a pride / that never died / we were the sons of Ali
In awe of us / they all loved us / and this every day I’d see
A promise that lived inside me… a pride my actions would maintain
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
I was young when they killed my father Hassan
Every eye would look at me as an orphan
All alone and came to wipe my head, a man
Now he’s all alone and to help him I can
When I was young / to me he’d come / and he’d become my father
What has become / he has no-one / he’s calling for a helper
What kind of son would Qassim be… if all alone he would remain?
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
I lived my life in my grandfather’s shadow
From my morals my love for Ali, they’d know
And on that day, his words to the world I’d show
Yesterday has gone, uncertain’s tomorrow
Work within this world / he would say / as if you’ll live forever
And as if you’ll / die tomorrow / work toward the hereafter
Today’s my day, I’ll work for me…. to be known as “Qassim, the slain”
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
My uncle had a love of Ali so grand
For being his son, he was led to this land
All his sons, the name Ali, on their hearts band
He’d name all Ali, if he had a thousand
I saw Hussain / he loved this name / it left my uncle entranced
A young lion / I embraced him / and with this great name I pounced
Ali’s zeal flowed inside me… I’d make the enemy’s blood rain
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
My grandfather of this day, he was aware
He knew who’d die for Hussain and how and where
If he’s watching, how can I into life stare?
How can I live if he wanted me killed here?
I left my tent / Ramla’d lament / by her cries to war I’m led
Her tears drip down / my wedding gown / to her nightmares I have fed
If fate wanted me to marry… I’d not have seen Karbala’s plain
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
I’d cry out pretending my voice was thunder
I am the hero of Uhud and Badr
I’d pretend I was the one struck on Qadr
So young, but I wanted to be like Haider
So young and yet / still they feared me / I hope my grandfather’s proud
I imagined / I was Ali / leaving, in awe, Badr’s crowd
Ali, you’re the father of dust… accept me as one of its grains
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
O’ youth on that day I learnt many lessons
And because of it my name in hearts glistens
When they realised I was of Hassan’s orphans
Their sword called out my name and death, it listens
Swords cut through me / death embraced me / arrows at me they’d propel
I was murdered / and massacred / I learnt this from my uncle
And perhaps Hussain learnt from me… like me, his throat cut vein to vein
On that day my uncle taught me… live like Ali, die like Hussain
* * *
(Istanbul – 20/12/12)