In Hussain’s eye a tear… farewell my messenger,
From Mecca to Kufa… it ends in Karbala
* * *
Hussain cries out O’ my cousin what game has Kufa played?
O’ writers of Kufa upon my household’s blood you wade,
In my eyes if he is preyed on, then on me you have preyed,
And if he sways from his horse it’s as if the world has swayed
His Lord his only companion, and after he had prayed,
He turns his head and sees behind him, no helper, no aid
He calls out for Hussain… Hussain’s tears of blood rain
Written is the future… it ends in Karbala
* * *
Alone in the city and if he finishes his prayer
The only support left for him sleeps in his eye, a tear
Even if he turns his head and all helpers disappear,
Kufa’s mosque and sky and desert cry O’ Muslim we’re here
Yet his hope flickers when only silence reaches his ear
No friends, and no family, only enemies appear
He reads Falaq and Nas… his sword cries O’ Abbas
And he begins the war… it ends in Karbala
* * *
He rises and refuses to be his own tragedy
And within him ignites the blood of Khaybar’s family
His allegiance and his zeal is a thing of beauty
He draws his sword and begins the battle with “O’ Ali”
An army of angels behind him, tell me who’s lonely?
One man, fed Badr from his cradle, against an army
Written upon his palm… Ali’s my first Imam,
And I’m his defender… it ends in Karbala
* * *
Muslim battles alone yet the hundreds he endangers
If ever he tires then Hussain alone he pictures
O’ Bani Umaya I’m of Bani Hashim’s soldiers
The son of Abu Talib to no tyrant surrenders
Is this all that you have brought me? Bring me greater numbers!
And the heads of disbelief the sword of faith dismembers
Muslim upon his sword… Shi’i on the blood poured
In Kufa lives Badr… in ends in Karbala
* * *
They take Muslim to Ibn Ziyad and he’s wrapped in chains
O’ Muslim where are your supporters? Not a soul remains
Know that our tyranny shall hold Iraq’s neck by its reigns
And once we have taken your life we will go for Hussain’s
If from giving allegiance to us your cousin refrains
We’ll add his children’s lives, his women captive to his pains
To Hussain say goodbye… in tears of blood you cry
His cries the skies will hear… it ends in Karbala
* * *
(London 08/11/13)