On Peace
Long he stood that man of God
against darkness and his foes
Loving all and hating none
against him evil rose
Clothed in white with green turban
Passed on from human sight
His words live on to us this day
advising wrong from right
Come oh sinful man and hear
the words of the blest Imam
Take his lantern on your path
sheltering you from harm
For His Town
O small town of Bareilly
From your lit streets there came
A man of written promise
Who never wanted fame
The hopes and fears of mankind
were hidden in his breast
lifting us from coldness
to the heartbeat in his chest
Whispering words of Darood
gently in our ears
slowly calming fearful breaths
and eyes so full of tears
O my blessed Imam
I long to be with you
I read your words and realise
your message ever true
Gone from sight my Brother
You’re words are ‘ere alive
for surely man and message
no man can e’er divide.
On work and distractions
On Distraction
My ears are full of noise
like cymbals never cease
I’m wearied with their calling
they do not bring me peace
But a gentle sound is stirring
through all my noise and haste
a passive noise not angry
is welcome to my taste
I hear it gently calling
a voice does slowly flow
my eyes strain in the darkness
at its faint but lovely glow
An unfinished poem – 3am
Through the night of darkened sorrows
window panes but without light
I yearn for words of spoken kindness
to guide me through the lonely night
Then clear before me through the darkness
zikr beads I hear them move
a still small voice is gently stirring
bringing home the gentle truth
On Reading Kanzul Iman
O’er waiting tasbeh in hands I touch the beads
trying to feel connected and trying to bring some peace
O’er the sea of my rough mind a man does walk
and comes to me and tenderly begins to talk
Pointing eastwards smiling, a guiding post
long fingers guide me to a place I love the most
Suddenly I wake to find my worries ceased
Kanzul Iman upon my lap Im filled with peace
The Eyes of Ahmed Raza
Last night I dreamt they followed me
Like marbles set in sand
Such beauty words cannot describe
Of one led by Gods hand
Last night I dreamt my Master came
And held me in his arms
He took me to Kaaba’s door
And sheltered me from harm
His eyes were brown, no, hazel, green,
And more with every smile,
With every step their colour changed
Again with every mile
As we reached dear Mecca’s gate,
His face was all aglow
Then I awoke to find his light
In books from long ago.
His Love, it shone across the valleys
Pierced the darkest nights like knives
Flowing streams of gentle rivers
Bathing all in peaceful light
His Love defeated every evil
Not by battle, sword or war
But by Darood gently spoken
Removed the badness from his shores
HIs Love was like a thousand roses
Springing Up in darling June
Perfumed by the sweetest heavens
Lighting up a thousand moons
His Love it rose upon the river
Rising on Ramganga’s banks
Like a star travailing night skies
At this place he gave God thanks.
