The Rose, The Soul & the Window
The most beautiful rose
You may find in the cemetery,
Blooming in between the headstones
And loving engravings,
In between the worshipful epithet
And a weeping widow, there
You may find a soul
And its window.
.............
I have changed, I think. The idea of dying, that mortal door through which all men must pass, is a constant thought that rides through my mind like a merry-go-round. I guess it comes with middle age. He he he.
20th May 2002. It should be no wonder too, when the woman who gave birth to me has only just passed the 12th anniversary of her passing. Shedding her mortal skin to wear who-knows-what now... Indeed, Hu (He, meaning God) would know, I guess. He he he. I pray for her eternal peace and happiness, I do. Though I know I am not worthy to kiss her feet.
30th March 2012. Then, some year later, my Shaykh Raja Ashman was released from his worldly burden, to go to a place where, according to his master, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, he would bear witness upon real power! I wonder what that meant. Real power. But I am not too worried, for He who wields that power is the Source of all Power, a.k.a. God Almighty Himself. And He loves us, He does...
God loves us with a longing you cannot know,
More than you will love any child you bear,
More than you will love any maiden you marry,
More than you will ever love even the person
That you call "Me".
...............
14th September 2013. Then last year, my elder brother, Saiful Bahri (known as Poone to his kin and friends) also returned to God and His Prophet. It was a surprising death (well, not really, in hindsight), but it was also good for him, looking in death far more beautiful to me (and many of our family and friends) than he was ever alive. It was as if upon death, God the Most Merciful, pulled the veil that hid my brother's true soul, that we might speculate a little upon his love, friendship and generosity. What a trick to pull at the end of his life! I will never forgive him for that. He he he.
7th May 2014. Finally, and most recently, our beloved Mawlana Shaykh Nazim of Lefke, Cyprus departed from this reality for the infinitely greater reality. Not to say that his attachment for this world was ever like us ordinary sinners. Drawn to Nabi Muhammad (saws), beloved to the saints and Companions of the Prophet, like a moth to a candle, he was ever whirling and living with love and mercy, carrying a heavy weight of servanthood. As my good buddy, Munim says... " I will not last a single day of Mawlana's life!". So now Mawlana himself is bearing witness to the real power!
Well, we may only speculate what these phrases mean when spoken by our betters. But we can hope to be reunited with all of them in the pacific solace of God's Divine Presence. After all, why bother praying if you do not ask God for the best that He can give you?
He he he.
And for myself? My death? Will anyone blog about me?
And when I am dead and buried?
Who will care for my passing?
And who will bother to write about me?
But I am not worried.
I intend to write my own epithet in your heart, sunshine.
Just remember me, and I will be there,
Busily scribbling!
................
wa min Allah at-taufiq
Notrumi Embun, 24th May 2014
Hate has no place in Islam
Love will show the Way
Today another death, another beginning.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, dear Jo. And another bay'at to give... masya Allah...
ReplyDeleteLove all your poems. Makes me think and reflect on life, the past, present and future. Of my relationship with people and of course the Beloved. Makes me think of what I would do and make right. if ever given the chance to do things all over again. Some of your poems even make me shed a tear or two (ah well, too embarrassed to tell you the truth here, haha). But thank you for the beautiful words, and for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Dragonfly, but why contemplate the what-ifs and the what-could-have-been? When God has fated such path of our life, to bring us here at the perfect place. As your Rumi often says... the world is perfect and only looks wrong because we are looking through our own stained glass.
ReplyDeleteSo I reckon you are just fine. Better than fine, in fact. But it is still good to shed tears, for it is through the gateway of our tears that sadness comes and departs.
Don't you agree?
Cheerio wasalaam.
Notrumi.