The victor of Badr… martyred within his prayer
In his final moments… the universe laments
* * *
I see the sun delay its ascent out of fear
Scared to see Ali’s state when on Earth it’d peer
A night that seems much longer than it would appear
Begins to weep when a small sentence it would hear
Ali enters the mosque, within his eye a tear
“Get up Ibn Muljim, do not delay your prayer”
Rise and carry out fate… to my Lord I’ll prostrate
To his death he consents… the universe laments
* * *
I see fate and what’s written all in division
To change what’s written I see trying, creation
Cries the dust that would once yearn his prostration
“My beloved pray elsewhere, lest you meet your doom”
The moon attempts to prolong its circulation
“How can I leave and rise tomorrow an orphan?”
Everything for him weeps… as fate upon him seeps
Undying bereavements… the universe laments
* * *
I see that your name brings the call to prayer its grace
You testify in one Lord and fate you embrace
You cup your ears for prayer, cries the Ka’ba you face
“Don’t pray there O’ Haider, return to your birthplace”
The sound of thunder to the Heavens I retrace
To bear the weight of Jibraeel’s call, the worlds brace
Worlds toward Kufa tilt… to see if blood’s been spilt
All scents become death’s scents… the universe laments
* * *
Your gaze fixed upon God whilst all to you would turn
You yearn your Lord whilst Ali everything would yearn
You prostrate to your Lord whilst your cheeks, your tears burn
“How will I meet my Lord” is your only concern
In your fear, your final prostration you lengthen
“We belong to God, and to God we shall return”
You rise, his sword descends… its blade, your skull, bends
Poison in its remnants… the universe laments
* * *
Jibraeel’s cry to beyond existence, it soared
And from the eyes of the uncreated, tears poured
Your head and your fast both broken by a poisoned sword
For breaking fast, apologetic to your Lord
Don’t weep O’ Haider, the seven Heavens applaud
And your throne in the highest Heaven is assured
Let your calamities… drown with all your worries
Your Lord Heaven presents… the universe laments
* * *
Tears in eyes burst just as the veins of your head burst
No man thinks of water, when for you is their thirst
The wielder of that sword, he prepares for the worst
You’re Haider Ali, no man would blame an outburst
The father of Hassan killed within his fast
The martyr who offered his killer water first
“Offer this man water”… this is Haider Karrar
His soul your love torments… the universe laments
* * *
Anarchy in creation his death would create
Everything mourns Ali, every hour is late
I want you O’ Ali’s lover to contemplate
You who the love of Ali would, your life, dictate
Remember today when for Fajir you prostrate
Within that first prostration Ali met his fate
Everything bids farewell… to the beloved that fell
His martyrdom torments… the universe laments
* * *
(London – 28/07/13)