Ruqaya sits… with Hameeda
Ruqaya’s soul.. starts to ask her
Hamida after I died
How many over us cried
* * *
There are two flowers of Ali
Each one in Ali’s love blossomed
Both were two young to understand
Their fathers were taken from them
One father found death Kufa
Betrayed though he tried to help them
One father was love upon Earth
But had his head taken from him
Two men of God… betrayed by men
Both died in thirst… none beside them
And their daughters wonder why
How many over us cried
* * *
Hamida first asks Ruqaya
What’s the last thing you remember
The last time I saw your body
Your sweet skin had lost its colour
I remember sleeping and then
I heard a scream O’ Ruqaya
I heard you cry out to Yazid
What have you done to my father
I heard you weep… and then silence
I have not seen… you ever since
On the dust I saw you lie
How many over us have cried
* * *
Ruqaya says to Hamidah
Let me first ask you a question
How did you feel when your ears heard
Hussain cry: “they’ve killed my cousin”
And he saw you standing confused
“To my father what has happened?”
He took his hand and wiped your head
To tell you, you are an orphan
It’s been too long… since we last spoke
Let me ask you… how your heart broke
Because still broken is mine
How many over us have cried
* * *
O’ Ruqaya I remember
When I heard my father was killed
I asked how can he be hated
Why would someone want his blood spilled
Whenever any had a need
By his hands it would be fulfilled
O’ Ruqaya both our fathers
Were too beautiful for this world
They were both love… in flesh and bone
Allah raised them… and gave them domes
Death itself they have defied
How many over us have cried
* * *
O’ Hamida I remember
I saw my father in a dream
At first I thought he had returned
But things were not as they had seemed
Because he had his head attached
And no blood from his pure neck streamed
I woke up and cried out his name
For my father Hussain I screamed
I screamed father… I can’t carry on
Take me with you… toward your tomb
And the tears have still not dried
How many over us have cried
* * *
London – 24/08/20