How I wish the monk that drew… your severed head, if he knew
Beyond those seventy-two… we all wish we were with you
* * *
The dust settled, burnt out by a tear
Through its ashes the eyes of death peer
Cries that break bone the dead wind would hear
As Hussain’s head is raised on a spear
No hands comfort gone are all held dear
By Zainab no Abbas would appear
Over seventy-two dead… bathed by the blood that was shed
Painted in dust that turned red… as away captives are led
* * *
And yet she stands, veiled by piety
A rose in ash, in calamity
‘Zain’ ‘ab’ – two as there’s one deity
With her One Lord, two things were weighty
The two-pronged sword made her worth mighty
With two eyes she saw only beauty
Her brother taught and we know… to no tyrant do you bow
Haider lives in her shadow… roses grow from her sorrow
* * *
Ashura’s eve as skies became dim
Zainab’s soldiers won what’s within them
Habib’s status recites him a hymn
The queen of veils, Zainab greeted him
They’d grin at death, no face pale or grim
Torn, ripped apart, shattered, limb from limb
Habib, Burayr and Zuhair… chose the dust above the air
Hussain took John in despair… with his own son him he’d pair
* * *
Hussain stood there holding those letters
Beneath his feet the Earth’s core shatters
“Who can help me…” his lone tongue mutters
Habib’s corpse for… a moment flutters
“I wish I were”… then my tongue stutters
Would I have left my worldly matters?
I am at war with myself… could I have conquered my self?
And embraced death in itself… or have left him by himself?
* * *
His call echoes today my ears heed
The grief in his soul makes my soul bleed
I’m no captive, with Hussain I’m freed
Let my roads lead to which he would lead
O’ Needless One, Lord, I pray in need
Lord make Hussain’s love my greatest deed
By the prayer for which he died… by the death that to all lied
By the battle-cry he cried… I wish I were by his side
* * *
Habib come back, let’s return again
I have more that can soothe Zainab’s pain
Today millions, for no worldly gain
Yearn we were there, to time we complain
Forget this world, forget this domain
We shall never forget our Hussain
Forget that for which we’ve wept… forget pain and forget debt
Forget what’s lost and what’s kept… Hussain we’ll never forget
* * *
There’s no living, nor worth of living
Without for him weeping and grieving
What a great love, so captivating
Daily his day we’re all reliving
Gone and yet he’s giving and giving
We believe and we’ll keep believing
Hussain don’t let your eyes weep… your companions aren’t asleep
The seeds of your love we reap… your story our tears shall keep
* * *
Tell that monk who holds your severed head
More are coming to die in your stead
To Karbala millions are led
Not yearning life, yearning death instead
O’ beloved don’t go far ahead
With your head let our heads be behead
No your day is not a day… it’s today, not yesterday
Know that our hairs become grey… wishing we were there that day
* * *
(London – 13/11/15)