I decided to climb a mountain named Ali
And attempt to reach that peak of eloquence
For what can be sweeter than the peak of Ali
Even at his base the sweetest remembrance
A mountain rooted in the Earth of Islam
A sign of God and a beacon of guidance
I knew that his peak was one full of life lessons
Whereas most peaks have nothing but air’s absence
But this is Ali, who Everest envies
His climb challenges Earth’s to Heaven’s distance
So I climbed but unlike climbing a mountain
The further I climbed, the sweeter the fragrance
I climbed like I turn the pages of a book
Named Nahjul Balagha, the crown of this prince
I climbed and heard him say that “certainly we are
The masters of speaking”… I was left in grievance
For I realised what Everest refused to know
As climbers upon its peak every day dance
I can never reach his peak for he has no peak
He broke the peak of humanity’s own conscience
He rescaled the scale of what a peak is
If he could and he could, he’d leave Earth in imbalance
So I accepted that this peak I can’t conquer
At the foot of Ali, I paid my allegiance
And I bathed in the lessons that his words teach us
The courage; submission; the patience; the science
And I salute the peak wherever it may be
All I know is that it is above brilliance
* * *
(Peterborough – 11/10/15)