Jaber visits Karbala whilst old and blind
Grief grips his heart and sorrow torments his mind
He hears a man digging, who does Jaber find?
Alone weeps Imam Sajjad… By the grave of his father
* * *
He asks Sajjad, O’ Master what happened here?
Why do I find Hussain’s grave wet with your tears?
Why do I hear that heads were carried on spears?
Sajjad takes his hand and weeps… Let me show you O’ Jaber
* * *
He speaks to Jaber and his voice is shaken
Jaber over here the Ansar were taken
And no-one was left to protect the children
Hussain stood crying their names… And none of them would answer
* * *
Over here the women cry, do you hear them?
O’ Jaber here they massacred our Qassim
A young boy and the swords towered over him
With armour too big for him… We brought him to his mother
* * *
A body looks like Mohammed or Ali
Jaber here Ali Akbar was killed thirsty
And within his father’s arms he passed away
Who brought him water at last?… Mohammed and Fatima
* * *
Did Abbas clench your fingers when he was born?
O’ Jaber here I saw the moon’s arms were torn
Yet only when he lost water he would mourn
With no flag and with no arms… I buried the flagbearer
* * *
O’ Jaber don’t ask why I returned in dread
I have returned to return my father’s head
O’ Jaber his grave weeps from the blood he’s bled
When I buried him he cried… Bring to me Ali Asghar
* * *
(London – 27/11/13)