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| When alive, Poone used to confide in his nephews that he shan't live to reach 50. But to me, he has. |
Happy Birthday, Poone! Today is my late brother Abang Chik's (Saiful Bahri, or Poone to his friends) birthday. I was reminded of this yesterday evening when my only living brother, Abang Ein (Mohamed Zahurein) mentioned it to me. Poone is 50 years old today.
I guess the normal wording would be is Poone would be 50 years old today, if only he is still alive. For you see, my brother passed away one rainy evening on 14th September 2013. But I cannot bring myself to write the normal way about Poone. Because to me, he is still living. If not alive in this physical world, he is very much alive in my heart. And in God's beautiful way, the world of the heart trumps the physical world all the time. No contest, really.
Don't you agree, sunshine?
Formed, Formless in the Dictionary of Love
He was formless,
Then he was born and given form,
Then God wanted him back and
He became formless again...
But lo, I can feel him in my heart
And upon my lips and in my eyes,
Formed or formless he is my brother,
And there is no past tense
In the Dictionary of Love
.......................
Poone & Ein. My two brothers never really got on when Poone was alive. They had some similar tastes in music, but I think I would do neither of them any disservice if I said that both brothers had different passion and essence lighting their own separate destinies. Yesterday, Adam our nephew said, "You know... I wish my dad and Pak Poone was closer before..." I thought for awhile before replying, "But Adam, you and your dad washed his naked body before we prayed jenazah (funeral prayers) for Pak Poone. How much more intimate do you want your father to be with Pak Poone?" I think my nephew saw the logic of my reply.
My brother, Abang Ein stepped up when Poone died and performed his brotherly duties. Which made me very happy. Because I am learning now that we often get frustrated, angry, annoyed and irritated by our close kin because they are our close kin. Had we not loved them so, we would not have cared and been so disturbed! He he he.
Don't you agree, sunshine?
A Sibling Love
May God bless our brothers and sisters,
No matter how we may feel about them,
For it is through love that we feel the sorrow today,
And it is through love that we will find happiness tomorrow!
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I cannot tell you how much debt I owe to my brother Poone. He influenced and taught me so many things.
A Debt to a Brother
When I was stupid,
He brought me good books,
When I was deaf,
He taught me beautiful music,
When I was impatient and angry
He showed me patience and mercy,
And when I was lost and needed guidance,
He took me to a Murshid,
To whom I swore the Bay'ah.
I shall be indebted to him
In so many ways
Till the day that I die,
On which day I hope to see him,
To say "I am sorry, I love you..."
And to rest my weary head on his shoulders and cry.
..............................
Sigh. Story of my life. And perhaps it is a story of your life too? Dearly departed(s) leaving us with a debt that we will never be able to repay.
It is a good thing, it is a beautiful thing, but it also brings tears to your eyes sometimes.
Don't you agree, sunshine?
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| Saiful Bahri bin Abdul Khalid aka Poone al fatiha |
wa min Allah at-taufiq
Hate has no place in Islam
Love will show the Way
Alfatehah.
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