You Never Forgot

I wrote this poem almost ten years ago. It never really made it out into the world until now, but I never truly forgot about it. It’s a small tribute to Imam Husayn (‘a) and his sacrifices in Karbala.

As Akbar’s adhan rang out loud and clear,
   Whose voice did you hear?
As your son rose for battle and rode steadily,
   Whose face did you see?
When he left from the tent and returned to the grind,
   And the spear in his chest had rendered you blind,
   Did not your grandfather come to your mind?
You never did forget Rasūlullah,
   So neither will we.
When faced with opponents, and against all the odds,
   We will trust in Allah and shun the false gods,
   Because that is how Ahmad taught us to be.

When Abbas’s intention was so rightfully placed,
   Whose faith did you taste?
As your brother raced out with his flag from your tents,
   Whose strength did you sense?
When he went to go quench the children’s need,
   And armless and blinded, fell from his steed,
   Did you not recall your father bleed?
You never did forget al-Murtadha,
   So neither will we.
Whether weak in the land or perched on the throne,
   For Allah and justice we’ll give all we own,
   Because that is how Ali taught us to be.

As Zaynab supported you throughout your ordeal,
   Whose love did you feel?
As you embraced your sister for the final farewell,
   Whose scent did you smell?
When you knew the tents would be burnt and ripped,
   Her hands to be shackled, her garments stripped,
   Did you not relive how your mother got whipped?
You never did forget Lady Zahrā,
   So neither will we.
When rights are usurped and no one will stand,
   We will not be too shy to obey God’s command,
   Because that’s how Fatimah taught us to be.

As Qasim ran up for his last loving clutch,
   Whose warmth did you touch?
As you gazed at your nephew take his foes down a notch,
   Whose grace did you watch?
When you heard his young voice cry out with such pain,
   And rushed out to save him as he fell on the plain,
   Did you not see your brother get shredded again?
You never did forget al-Mujtaba,
   So neither will we.
When surrounded by hardships and trials and sneers,
   We’ll stand firm like mountains, no man worth our fears,
   Because that is how Hasan taught us to be.

The Ahlul Bayt live on today because of Karbala.
Through you, we remember all of them, Aba Abdillah.
A flame is kept alive in hearts of all Shi’a
Who call out Abad wallah, Maa nansa Husayna.
The world will not forget you, oh Husayn,
   And neither will we.