By Ruqaya Aghaie
*****
Seek Patience
Patience, seek patience o’ death
Lengthen the time of her final breath
Approach not o moment of last sight
Hussain of Fatima will remain with no light
Shattered the clouds when carried his silenced scream
‘Oh, beloved mother’ it muttered in fright
Cried the sky as he continued… oh the rose of my life
Oh, the glowing moon at the darkest night
How can I forget the sign of the slap on my mother’s face?
How can I omit black hands that were in her chase?
What will you forget? And what will I remember?
When of torture leans on the wall my mother
Blood flowed down her chest as I witnessed in mourn
I portrait a kick, yearning… I endeavour
Beat not my rose o’ brutal evil
Her wounds and mine has become equal
Beat me, don’t beat my mother
A door and a flame aren’t to remember
Nor the laughter of the enemies
When Zainab searching for remedies
How do I neglect when on floor she fell in pain?
Wake up mother, he’s come to see you, your beloved Hussain…
I swear by the precious tears of Zainab
Harrowing is the nail on her broken rib
Her low whisper in a heart-breaking voice
Brought me in tears with no choice
Oh mother,
Oh, the rose of my life
Oh, the scent of perfection that towards I strive
Between your mutter I hear “Karbala… Ali Asghar”
And within my mutter you hear “where is Mohsen of Haidar?”
…
Oh, beloved mother
A desperate mourn is read through Hussain’s sight
I strike and wonder,
How would Ali bury his rose tonight?
*****
Words of Love
Just a every step towards him
Revives my soul, exhilarates my breath
To the beloved is the eternal aim
One sole wish; beside him death
…
I am predestined
Even if I relapse
my instinct brings me back to you
a homeland you
and a foreigner I am
looking toward your mercifulness
begging for your acceptance
Hussain…
…
My guilty soul
Stand ahead your compassionate one
Whispering my lips in words of a slave at his master’s door,
“accept me, oh the wide blessing
Oh, the bright sun”
*****
Ali Asghar
Tonight,
I stand and detect a radiant light
Shine at the entire universe
Delivering a delightful announcement;
To the master of the youth of paradise an angel is born.
Fulfilled is the desire of lady Rabab
Whilst Hussain is confused between laughter and mourn,
An arrow at Abdullah’s neck he imagines
Yet the bloody desert has come to warn
Prepare your youngest soldier oh Hussain for Karbala
He shall taste thirst, and the painful arrow of Harmala
–February 2019