Saturday, December 3, 2011

Quenched At Last


Many sons have been born, but none like this one,
Whose bravery and loyalty shines as bright as the sun.

On that day, the son of a brave lion, of Bani Hashim, the moon,
Sets out to fetch the children water, relief is coming soon.

He charges through the ranks, slicing them like butter,
With fear and cowardice, the enemy hearts flutter.

To bring him down, they must cheat, oppress and lie,
And the assault begins with the arrow shot into his eye.

Two deathly strikes to my heart when they cut off his hands,
Two blows to my soul, as he lay bleeding on the desert sands.

The flag that was held high, now comes to half mast,
As they plot and plan how to finish this dauntless lion fast.

The blood gushes from his wounds in immeasurable pain,
Yet his mission remains to quench the children of Hussain.

They then pierce the water skin, that carried hope and water,
Determined to persist in their animalistic slaughter.

“Ya Sayyidi, Ya Imami!” a call to the brother and master,
A last wish to be granted as his life drained out faster.

Don’t take me back to camp as I have failed to quench the thirsty hopes,
And the children will not be able to bear the sight of my corpse.

The weight of my body I will not make you carry and bear,
When there is none with whom your burdens you can share.

The time has come, my brother, let me lie on the sand,
I know you have none left to assist you from your faithful band.

Please wipe my eye, as I cannot see you through this blood,
The arrow that pierced one eye caused the other to flood.

Allow me the pleasure of gazing once more upon your face,
Let me see the one whose love they cannot erase.

Abbaas, fulfill one more wish O noble son of my father,
Today for once, don’t call me master, simply ‘Brother’.

Like the cooing at sunset of a gentle and beautiful dove,
With his last breath, he fulfills one more wish for his love.

From Allah we are, and to Him we must surely return,
Your killers have been promised in eternal hell to burn.   
     
Ah! I have lost my support and my backbone,
All day you were by my side, now I am alone.

The shores of the Euphrates with your blood are drenched;
O Saaqi of the thirsty, at Kawthar you have been quenched…


-S-