Can the angel of death take his soul, really?
When it prides itself with the name Jafari
As his soul leaves in despair… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I’ve not seen the angel of death… who the greatest of kings fear
Descend with ash upon his wings… as if upon death he’d peer
As if he himself meets with death… in fear when it would appear
He sees Jafar Sadiq poisoned… trickles from his eye a tear
As a decree from the Almighty he brings
He throws dust upon his head using his wings
As Sadiq breathes his last air… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I forget that planets rotate… that the moon circles the Earth
From the grief of seeing his pain… I wish I did not know birth
I am the closest friend of death… and the dead know of my worth
But can I take my master’s soul… and leave his body in earth?
I witness rocks bleed as in pain they all heed
For those that neglect prayer we won’t intercede
To both dead and living ear… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I’ve not seen blood that was purer… and God knows well of his blood
Hunayn knows of his ancestors… and the mountain of Uhud
In the eyelashes of his eye… flutters the decree of God
God forgive me, but this great task… I wouldn’t do if I could
Glory to the Lord, king of roads in Heaven
What a task to take souls of Ali’s children
As black hair turns to grey hair… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I carry out the plan of God… yet he knows more of God’s plan
He who wields science like words… teacher of Ibn Hayaan
I am more of a Jafari… more than any mortal man
At his mere command my wings bow… lower than any man can
By the house of God where his father was born
The crack on it is not cracked more than I’m torn
And whilst God’s decree is fair… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I bare witness his soul is free… from blemish and from defect
And from the ranks of his lovers… my heart shall never defect
Those who’ve believed his right to lead… when they die I shall protect
And with them I’ll tell his haters… reject? Of course I reject
I reject those who you’ve placed before Ali
And I pride myself with the name Rafidhi
Whilst you embrace the unfair… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I pull his soul from his body… and yet ever so gently
And hear him cry out his last words… “do not take your prayer lightly”
An Imam killed alongside prayer… hurts me a deep memory
When from the Mehrab of Kufa… I took the soul of Ali
I take his soul and just like his grandfather
When he leaves Earth I witness roses wither
As soul from body would tear… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
I embrace his soul with my wings…. to him I apologise
For the poison within his blood… and for such a harsh demise
My eyes meet with eyes of his soul… and I see tears in his eyes
Angel of Death, don’t you recall… the daughters of Hussain’s cries
How did you take his soul out from his body
From a neck left headless, battered and bloody
With the little that he’d wear… he cries don’t forget your prayer
* * *
(London – 12/08/15)