Sorrows Sufferings [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

(13) A ROSE BUD FADES AWAY

In the dark desolate dungeon, the
caravan halted

The scorpions and snakes took fright
and bolted

Zaynab and Zainal Abedeen, prostrated
themselves in prayer

Without a word of complaint, without
any demur.

It was dark inside, despite the
sun's bright rays

The stone walls were damp, crumbling
with decay

Looks of sorrow and despondency,
was on each face

Of joy and laughter, there was not
even a trace.

The faces depicted sufferings, beyond
human endurance

Prayer was the solace, they enjoyed,
without hindrance

A few stale morsels of bread and
a little water

Was their daily ration, in these
horrible quarters.

"Stone walls do not a prison make
nor iron bars a cage,"

Was equally true in that merciless
land and cruel age

Though in shackles, every night
their spirits soared high

To heights sublime, beyond all plains,
in the heavenly sky.

Sakina, woke with a shriek, in the
dead of the night

She had seen her father's heavenly
soothing light

"O' Sakina, you have suffered enough,
come with me

the days of your sufferings are
over; O' where is he?"

It was just a dream, what a
disappointment!

It was not a reality, to her
bewilderment

Her uncontrollable lamentations,
gathered a crowd

The ladies also lost control and
wailed aloud.

Hearing the wails, Yazid sent slaves
to inquire

Pacing up and down, he had not yet
retired

On knowing the cause, his crooked
mind strived

A devilish scheme, he soon mischievously
contrived.

Yazid's men entered with a covered
tray,

"I do not want food, please take
it away

I want my father; promises he did
give

Without taking me, why did he
leave?"

They removed the cloth; Sakina beheld
the face

Even in death, it was full of heavenly
grace

With a cry, she flung herself on
the wooden tray

Hugging to her heart, she snatched
the face away.

Inconsolably, she bent down over
the head

Putting, her cheeks, against that
of her dad

Within a few moments, her sobbing
had stopped

Her mortal remains, she had quietly
dropped.

"How long will you lie on your father's
head?"

Zaynab touched her hand; she was
shockingly dead

Sakina had gone with her father,
never to return

Husayn had kept his promise, as
he had always done!