May our last cries be like her cries… shaking the souls and seven skies
Disheveled as her aunt found her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
A child of just a few years… yet she knows more than the whole world
She knows well of the heart’s secret… she knows of the only true love
When she would sleep of him she dreamt… feeling her toes and fingers curl
Muhammad turns towards mankind… “will you not learn from this child?”
And all of her heart was Hussain… till nothing of her heart remained
His heart beside her heart in her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
At her young age, she was a saint… conquering her will and her heart
For she let go of all she was… but from Hussain could never part
She wept for him, she yearned for him… and his absence tore her apart
Moments after he left her side… left and right her pupils would dart
What child should be left confused… her heart broken, and her skin bruised
Skin colour alien to her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
A daughter of revelation… whose grandfather the Ka’ba cracked
Every time she asks for Hussain… the whip of Shimr strikes her back
“Where is Abbas?” she cried confused… “sword drawn and ready for attack
From the thirst, pain and exhaustion… the whites of my eyes have turned black”
Whenever she cries “Abbas”… she must then endure Shimr’s laughs
No Abbas running to help her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
She wakes from sleep and cries his name… and when she cries, stars fall to Shaam
“Aunty why is my hand empty… I just felt his palm in my palm”
Her screams shatter the night like glass… her head buried in Zainab’s arm
She says, “my love, soften your cries… Yazid’s grip on his throne is firm”
The devil’s eye opens again… “bring the head of this Hussain
On a platter serve it to her”… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
They bring her a plate of silver… her stomach knows no more of food
“I am not hungry”, she protests… then the lid on it they remove
She sees the head of her beloved… lips still dry and his face still bruised
She screams his name, “Hussain, Hussain”…. by Zainab’s cloak, her cries subdued
Her soul departs from her pure neck… no black on her heart, not a speck
Pure as the day Hussain held her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
Her last word and her last desire… her last worry and her last dream
Her last heartbreak, her last moment… her last tears that from her eye streamed
Her only love, her only truth… escaped her tongue, as it she screamed
May our last word be just as sweet… just as in life, his love had been
Like her, may we cry out his name… when one with his heart she became
When he came and comforted her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
It is the dream of every heart… that one name sits upon their tongues
When the Angel of Death beckons… and the chance for deeds is long gone
May we look back upon the Earth… when the dead ask where we came from
And yearn the sweetest of all dust… that we would once prostrate upon
Hearts beat as death edges closer… “just once more glimpse of Karbala”
Dust of Tar she’d carry with her… crying out as death would take her:
“Hussain… Hussain…”
* * *
(Dearborn – 01/09/22)