Where…
Has Hussain’s flagbearer fallen
Cry his name women and children
Where…
* * *
O’ land… we return to you, and on us death is peered
O’ land… for forty days at our hardships devils jeered
O’ land… at our shadows the eyes that bathe in sin glared
O’ land… now we welcome you when the smoke of death’s cleared
Where..
Is Abbas is our first question
Cry his name women and children
Where…
* * *
O’ sun… you sit perched on your throne when we have suffered
O’ sun… once roses were these orphans that I’ve gathered
O’ sun… these roses were struck and left roses withered
O’ sun… with each strike the flagbearer they remembered
Where…
With his sorrows is he hidden
Cry his name women and children
Where…
* * *
O’ moon… I seek the moon that daily with you wrestled
O’ moon… from one knee he’d rise if grief their hearts shackled
O’ moon… like a lion he’d pounce if they are startled
O’ moon… these orphans are asking why his flag toppled
Where…
Is his flag, has it arisen
Cry his name women and children
Where…
* * *
O’ doves… these graves you circle in what’s obedience
O’ doves… do recall how once I adored your presence?
O’ doves… now your image reminds us of his absence
O’ doves… God gave him two wings to restore his balance
Where…
Is he with his wings a mountain
Cry his name women and children
Where…
* * *
Abbas… when these orphans would fear, they’d gaze at shadow
Abbas… hoping from it you’d pounce as their tears would flow
Abbas… tell me how far the wound on each cheek would grow
Abbas… before you rise, rush to them and each wound sew
Where…
Is the carer of these children
Cry his name women and children
Where
* * *
(London – 13/12/11)