Bury my grave… And for me grieve… For endless years Haider they’ll crave
* * *
Tonight death has its eyes on me… and it calls me to its embrace
An embrace so cold yet so sweet… a death of martyrdom and grace
And sits grief in my children’s eyes… their hearts in a dark and cold place
I see tears flowing from these eyes… as all my blood flows down my face
Tears and blood flow… this is sorrow… as at me fires death’s arrows
* * *
I ask my sons to sit near me… a world of sorrow in their eyes
I say bury me secretly… this is the cost of my demise
Like your mother’s grave is still lost… and only I know where it lies
Like I cried when I buried her… O’ sons bury me in your cries
Let me hear you… cry and wail… this is how I’ll remember you
* * *
They carry me on their shoulders… and only the night is with them
As they reach far in the desert… they lower in dust my coffin
The cold dust welcomes and greets me… as sorrow welcomes my children
To their father they bid farewell… I reply, farewell my orphans
Bid your farewell… and the world tell… that your father sits with angels
* * *
After death yet I still regret… as I lie here in peace and bliss
I wish I were above the ground… for I prefer my prayer to this
I miss prostrating to my Lord… before Heaven my prayer I wish
And with my eyes upon my sons… my children’s cheeks I wish to kiss
Desire knows… all my sorrow… out of fear of God my tears flow
* * *
For how long was my pure grave lost… and yet for years they searched for it
At last when they discovered me… by me with tears flowing they sit
Yet sits with me a memory… and with my hand my head I hit
Why is Fatima’s grave still lost… in me a fire of grief lit
They all yearn her… but please answer… why I’m found when lost is Zahra?
* * *
I hear the blazing of fire… I remember Zahra’s demise
A voice calls out familiar… crying, Haider from your grave rise
Come to this land of Karbala… your son Hussein on the dust lies
Upon his neck rests Shimr’s sword… to defend him only my cries
Head on a spear… rivers flow tears… with my wound were only I there
* * *
(London – 12/06/10)