Learning to See Beyond the Storm

So quickly the skies darken,

Clouds obscure the light

Tiny pockets of blue

The only hope in sight

Thunder roars and lightening flashes

The air feels heavy and dense

Trees break and vision is lost

Every nerve scared and tense

Storms of self echo nature’s cycles

Clouds roll in and obscure all sight

Trapped in ego-fashioned darkness

Stifling all God given light

Lost in the moment’s tests and pain

Inner turmoils consume all thought

Hearts are closed and trapped within

Battles repeatedly and continuously fought

These storms hold captive our conscious minds

And our instincts lead us astray

We alienate ourselves from those around us

And hold God’s love at bay

But what if our instincts were to forget ourselves

When we’re confused or wreathing with pain

Instead of being lost in the dark of the storm

To reach out and protect each other from rain

Forgetful of self, trusting in Him

Supporting one another as we learn to fly

Ceaselessly delighting in their progress and service

Together exploring the heights of the sky

He alone can change the gnat into an eagle

The drop into a boundless sea

My deepest wish and greatest desire

Is that this transformation take place within me

A Question of Sight

Your eyes transfix my soul
They look where none have ever seen
Your gaze never wavers one iota
What of my inner essence do You glean?

What do You see in my fear and selfishness?
How do You view my intentions?
How strong is the light of Your love in my heart?
How in line with Your teachings are my reflections?

How can I truly bring myself to account,
When my "self" is directing the quest?
How can I know if I'm actually learning,
Or if my growth is being repressed?

What does it mean to be a willing channel,
A messenger of Your love,
A bearer of spiritual gifts,
Spreading unity from above?

How can I possibly know how,
To bring concord to the earth,
A pale, pathetic, unworthy creature,
Who does not even recognize her own worth?

I look inside me but see only failings
A naive, self absorbed, vulnerable youth
But Your eyes seem to delve deep into my soul
And instead, see capacity, value and truth

So I beg You to aide me to see through Your eyes
And dwell only on Your reflected light
The darkness inside me just space to be filled
With the beauty illumined by Your blessed sight

A Legacy of Sacrifice

I walk in the footsteps of those come before me
And yet I pave my own path along the way
Following their example, I learn from their triumphs
Letting their dedication illumine each day
Their legacy stamped on each page of my story
Their service measured by each wave on the bay
A fleeting moment was their time on this mountain
Yet engraved in every pebble will their sacrifices stay

Gratitude

No tongue, can voice my gratitude

No pen write my heart

No voice sing the praises

No thought out words impart

The joy and thanksgiving

That live deep within me

The gratitude and awe

At the gifts You give so freely

For the love that surrounds me

For the joy within my soul

For the beauty of this blessed place

For the tests and trials which help me grow

With every ounce of my inner being

I am grateful for this gift of life

Thank You for never leaving us alone

For walking with us through joy and strife

(Written 25-Nov-2010)

Friendships' Storms

I stood, silent

Haunted and alone

The wind whipped around me

My face, blank as stone

The greenery died

Fell slowly to the ground

All life meandered out of reach

My pulse, an empty sound

She stayed with me

Held my hand as it started

Kept me breathing through the flood

My voice, long since departed

As the water froze

She hummed in consolation

Watched me slip and fall and bleed

Her hand, my strong foundation

When the storm struck

And drove me to my knees

Broke my will and left me lost

Her warmth, held back the freeze

But the thunder's striike

Demolished every wall

The ice broke and split apart

My spirit, shattered and small

And my only bridge

My last connection to reality

Untangled her fingers and pushed me in

Then turned, away from my mortality

Her last glimpse

Flooded this broken levee

Pulled and battered by the current

My heart, broken and heavy

I floated alone

A month or a lifetime adrift and silent

Despair and solitude my only friends

My abandonment, insidious and violent

I can’t seem to let go

Though I’ve long since found the shore

Of the hope that someday she’ll slip her hand in mine

Her friendship, mine once more

No matter how I try

Pain still echoes behind closed doors

But if you ever again cared enough to ask

My forgiveness, would be yours

A Hidden Truth

A mist, a fog, a cloud
Blocks the vision
Obscures the Sun
Everything unclear
In order to see truth
You must investigate for yourself

He arose from the clouds
The clouds of materialism
Of hatred and prejudice
Of fear and fanaticism
He parted them
And brought back the Light of the Sun

Yet so many choose
To live in the shadows
To hide away from the Light
To worship the dirt and the rocks
They wait for the impossible
Not recognizing the Hidden Truth

A True Friend

A friend is an answer,
A question, a song
A graceful dancer
A place you belong
A partner in stride
A synchronized beat
An ear to confide
A haven from defeat

Whether for a few days,
A period, or a life
A friend is one of God's rays
A victory in strife
A joy in your heart forever
A memory soaring above
A gift impossible to measure
A connection of hearts through His love

Temporal Reality

A sequence of dates, climb their way up a door frame

While the waves quietly ebb and flow

The breezes of fate, fan the bright Rays of His Flame

Telling a story all should know

The moon changes shape, and the stars blaze and dance

As the sand slowly falls

The mountains escape, leaving boundless expanse

Echoing memory’s calls

Graveyards of achievements, and lifetimes of goals

Seasons lost with every breath

The earth’s bereavement, and the despair of souls

Bring life to the brink of death

Sisters become mothers, and children learn to speak

As brief moments in life slip silently past

Night and day succeed each other, in a constant hide and seek

Would you be content if today was your last?

Trust in God

Trust in God
Simple in its complexity

The all-encompassing answer
Yet every heart's burning question

The pulse of life
Directing existence

Every soul's consolation
The most challenging manifestation

A wayfarer's motive
A planner's trial
A despairer's solace
A worrier's mile
A lover's freedom
A dreamer's mountain
A yearner's window
A searcher's fountain

This detachment
The ego's greatest enemy

An ocean of absolute freedom
For those who behold its glory

The food of the spirit
Nourishing all creation

A light in the dark of night
Giving clear direction to those who unveil their sight

The Báb’s Blessed Companion

Alone he ran across the field

Toward a magnificent countenance illuminating the skies

His focused attention would not yield

No force could block him from this prize

His ardor true and unconcealed

Though young, his heart was pure and wise

He walked right through the guarded shield

The mirrored Light before his eyes

He took this Light and his soul awoke

Though its protection would lead him to despair

For the love that Blessed name evoked

Imprisonment was his unwarranted fare

In his anguish he dreamt his Beloved spoke

A promise made in answer to a prayer

It calmed his soul in a single stroke

For the cup of martyrdom They would share

Three years he spent in expectation

Awaiting the return of the One he Adored

Till in a crowded street, silent with trepidation

He humbled himself at the feet of his Lord

Begging to be imprisoned with the Spark of Creation

He was led with two others through the massive hoard

Filled with wonder, excitement and exaltation

Finally reflecting the Light he had stored

That night along with the others arrested

He was asked a question he could not understand

The Báb begged them to carry out what He requested

That His life would be ended by a faithful friend’s hand

In terror and shock, he cried and protested 

How could such weight, he ever withstand?

But with detachment and trust he arose uncontested

And said he would follow any command

With this glorious act of love and devotion

He surrendered control to his heart’s Desire

The events that this sacrifice set in motion

Would connect him forever to the One we admire

The Báb praised his obedience with zeal and emotion

And chose him to share martyrdom’s attire

He opened before him the door of God’s Ocean

And kindled him in the blaze of God’s Fire

At noon the next day a miracle was seen

As seven hundred and fifty bullets missed their mark

The Báb disappeared, found calm and serene

Sharing with His secretary His final remark

The chief attendant and regiments left the scene

Unwilling to kill this melodious Lark

And the replacement soldiers just following routine

Would be remembered as those who stole Light from the dark

Anis’ last wish before he left this worldly space

Was to be hung so his head would shield the chest

Of the One with whose dust and eternal embrace

His mortal remains would forever rest

Love and joy emblazoned his face

As his soul flew high, released from its tests

Now his spirit resides under the dome of God’s Grace

Forever the Báb’s companion and guest

Shira Bahia

I wear my name

like a favorite pair of jeans

like a cozy worn out sweatshirt

the essence of what it means

I strive with all my power

to live up to its grace

to embody its truth 

and to mirror its embrace

For I was given a name

both beautiful and strong

which tells tales and whispers melodies

Shira Bahia - a glorious poem or song

Flying Into the Night

I long to fly
To spread my wings and jump
Everything left behind
The storms, the rain, the empty sky, even the sun
Flying into the dusk
Into the mystery which the night holds
Lit by stars and northern lights
Changing the way the world is seen
A new perspective on what we think we know
Meeting the expanse of the unknown
With strength and courage
Flying into the promise of a new day to come

Reaching His Presence

Gold flowers narrow my vision
Shoes placed neatly around the door
The fragrance of roses, waft gently toward me
My feet find calm in the carpet strewn floor

Light flowing in from the high ceiling windows
Brings with it a sense of serenity and peace
Flowers and birdsong engulf my whole being
Turning that corner my control I release

Each step has a magic, each breath a new meaning
My soul approaching the source of its yearning
Beyond that threshold, an unknowable Presence
The force around which our whole world is turning

This place is a beacon, this visit a blessing
One I will never fully understand
His confirmations and love surround me
A bounty from God to have come to this land

Pilgrimage Day 9: The Footsteps of 'Abdu'l-Baha

"O Lord, my God! Give me Thy grace to serve Thy loved ones, strengthen me in my servitude to Thee, illumine my brow with the light of adoration in Thy court of holiness, and of prayer to Thy kingdom of grandeur. Help me to be selfless at the heavenly entrance of Thy gate, and aid me to be detached from all things within Thy holy precincts. Lord! Give me to drink from the chalice of selflessness; with its robe clothe me, and in its ocean immerse me. Make me as dust in the pathway of Thy loved ones, and grant that I may offer up my soul for the earth ennobled by the footsteps of Thy chosen ones in Thy path, O Lord of Glory in the Highest." - 'Abdu'l-Baha 


Every step we have taken
On this journey of grace and wonderment
Has been living through Your eyes
Tasting the joy of Your presence
Watching Your light brighten the skies
Breathing the fragrance of Your essence

Each day we have spent with You
Has been a blessing and a treasure
But now we must bid good-bye to these unexplainable days
To walking in the footsteps of Your sacrifice and grace
To the potency of Your fire which has set us all ablaze
To a journey which now ends within Your warm embrace

But with joy we will take You with us
For we yearn to fulfill Your deepest longing
Take each step and each breath as we do
Let our desires and Yours become one and the same
In poverty accompany us as we travel for You
And help us cry to the world His Glorious Name

"O that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the call of "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha" in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, promote the divine teachings! This, alas, I cannot do. How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may achieve it." - 'Abdu'l-Baha

Pilgrimage Day 8: A Most Sacred Trust

"When all was finished, and the earthly remains of the Martyr-Prophet of Shiraz were, at long last, safely deposited for their everlasting rest in the bosom of God's holy mountain, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Who had cast aside His turban, removed His shoes and thrown off His cloak, bent low over the still open sarcophagus, His silver hair waving about His head and His face transfigured and luminous, rested His forehead on the border of the wooden casket, and, sobbing aloud, wept with such a weeping that all those who were present wept with Him. That night He could not sleep, so overwhelmed was He with emotion. 'The most joyful tidings is this,' He wrote later in a Tablet announcing to His followers the news of this glorious victory, 'that the holy, the luminous body of the Báb...after having for sixty years been transferred from place to place, by reason of the ascendancy of the enemy, and from fear of the malevolent, and having known neither rest nor tranquillity has, through the mercy of the Abha Beauty, been ceremoniously deposited, on the day of Naw-Ruz, within the sacred casket, in the exalted Shrine on Mt. Carmel..." - Adib Taherzadeh

On the day His blessed life was stolen

Darkness obscured the skies

A gale of dust stole sight from all eyes

The world itself mourned His unjust demise

Anis, His pure and devoted servant

Gave his life to stand by His side

Glorious the manner in which he died

His head on the breast of his loving Guide

Their remains were thrown outside the city

Their bodies mingled into one

Their faces reflecting the Bountiful Sun

Their journey to burial barely begun

The authorities, wishing to quench the Faith’s flame

Protected the bodies from sight

But still they were stolen in the dead of night

By the lovers of His magnificent light

For sixty long years they journeyed far

The hands of His servants protecting this treasure

Their sacrifices and risks impossible to measure

This hidden mystery their deepest pleasure

Until at last the bodies of these blessed souls

Reached their final resting place

Abdu’l-Bahá with tears streaming down His face

Laid Them to rest under the dome of God’s Grace

The commitment and devotion of these few special souls

Is a blessing and bounty given to this world

For though into the path of danger they were hurled

Their actions saw the banner of our Faith unfurled

Lamp outside Abdu'llah Pasha in which the remains of the Bab were kept
hidden for a number of years. 

Pilgrimage Day 7: An Archive of Mystery and Light

"The world of being shineth, in this Day, with the resplendency of this Divine Revelation. All created things extol its saving grace, and sing its praises. The universe is wrapt in an ecstasy of joy and gladness. The Scriptures of past Dispensations celebrate the great Jubilee that must needs greet this most great Day of God. Well is it with him that hath lived to see this Day, and hath recognized its station." - Shoghi Effendi


The history of this blessed Faith
Embraced by marble and glory
Tablets, artifacts and those blessed pictures
Tell our Faith's triumphant story

Protected and cherished over many long years
Preserved by His lovers' devoted hands
Elegantly displayed for His servants and guests
With the reverence with which their importance demands

The photo of the Blessed Beauty
Struck a chord deep in my heart
The beautiful tablets and letters of love
The simplicity of the Master's garb

Shoghi Effendi's smiling face
The sword of the gentle Mulla Husayn
Khadijih's bracelet given with love
Navvab's letter of pride and of pain

That sweet and pure letter from Ruh'u'llah the martyr
The fruition of Bahiyyah Khanum's devotion
The blood stained shirts of the Bab and Mirza Mihdi
All brought deep, soul-stirring emotion

But the deepest was staring at Baha'u'llah's robes
For I was suddenly struck with yearning and love
A yearning to feel His garment surround me
To be clothed in His mercy and light from above

Pilgrimage Day 6: A Pilgrim's Journey

"Praise be to God that through His gracious bounty you were enabled to visit His exalted, His sacred and luminous Threshold, to refresh and perfume your nostrils with the sweet-scented fragrances of God diffused from these imperishable, holy Places. This wondrous gift calls for thanksgiving, and this heavenly bestowal warrants praise and glorification. And such praise is best expressed when one’s pilgrimage, one’s honour at attaining His holy Court and becoming the recipient of His favours and loving-kindness produce a profound effect and influence upon every aspect of one’s life, upon one’s bearing and demeanour, and one’s activities. There is no doubt that it will be so. " - Bahiyyih Khanum


Such a bounty this blessing
Such a wonder these days
Stepping away from the material
Our spirits set ablaze
The world beyond these hours
Seems naught but a distant haze
Guests of the Blessed Beauty
Our souls held by His gaze


The gates are opened wide
Only beauty greets our sight
His servants bow their heads in thanks
In the joy and devotion they delight
Without the presence of the pilgrims
These servants would be lost in night
For such purity, faith and unswerving devotion
Refresh and enable them to carry His light


Though these days are as fleeting
As a comet in the sky
They have the power to transform you
Your life spread out before your eyes
Like Badi, kindled in a single moment
His love so strong, for it he would die
If we take the same love from our own sacred meeting
We will assuredly fly

Pilgrimage Day 5: The Strength Behind Those Blessed Eyes

" 'I fought with myself until I conquered myself. Then I came back and I turned myself over to God and I was the Guardian.’ ‘Now,’ he said, ‘every Bahá’í in the world, every person in the world has to do exactly that same thing… regardless of what you are, whatever you are doing in the Cause, every Bahá’í must fight with himself and conquer himself. And when he has conquered himself, then he becomes a true instrument for the service of the Cause of God—and not until that. And he will not achieve as great a success until he has done it." - Quoting Shoghi Effendi from a talk given by Leroy Ioas

Even as a child upon his Grandfather’s knee

His destiny was written on the pages of fate

A burden and blessing would be His to be carried

A lifelong responsibility, an uncompromising weight

When his Grandfather died and the Will was read

His life as he knew it had ended

So he retreated to nature to conquer himself

To become the one on whom the world now depended

The sorrow and anguish faced in His path

Are more profound then words can mention

His achievements far greater than a poem can share

His courage and strength beyond comprehension

He brought administration through his faith and persistence

Guidance through his interpretive translations

Political relations through his trustworthiness and honesty

And the exponential spread of this Cause to all nations

Without his light bringing unity to our collective history

This Faith would have perished like many before

But he guided it through, he built the foundation

For pilgrims and lovers to pray at His door

Pilgrimage Day 4: Akka, Your Glory Awaits

"The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness." - Baha'u'llah


When He reached the shores of your city
He was met with banners of light
The atoms screamed their greetings
Though only He could see this sight

Instead your eyes were blinded
To the Gem standing before you
Sorrow and deep suffering brought
To the One who would transform you

Nine years He spent imprisoned
Within your tear stained walls
This time was spent in anguish
By the answerers of His call

His beloved son and servant
Died long before his time
Sacrificing his life
For the unity of mankind

Though you may not see it yet
Your future is bathed with Glory
For you were chosen by the Hand of God
To be the Mecca of His story

(The photo above was taken a year ago outside the Prison where Baha'u'llah was imprisoned, the photo below was taken today in the House of 'Udi Khammar a house where His family moved still within the walls of the city of Akka)

Pilgrimage Day 3: The Greatest Holy Leaf

“He is the Eternal! This is My testimony for her who hath heard My voice and drawn nigh unto Me. Verily, she is a leaf that hath sprung from this pre-existent Root. She hath revealed herself in My name and tasted of the sweet savours of My holy, My wondrous pleasure… Upon her rest the glory of My name and the fragrance of My shining robe.” –Baha’u’llah

To our world she is an immortal heroine

A blessing to all creation

To her Holy and Blessed Father

She was solace and consolation

A leaf upon His tree

A tendril of His flame

A soul beyond this world

A letter of His Name

Her life was filled with sorrow

Caused by others fear and blindness

Yet with courage and love she moved ahead

The embodiment of kindness

I pray to follow her example

To be gentle, loving and strong

To give my life to His Covenant

To sing her glorious song

Pilgrimage Day 2: Spreaders of Light

"Behold, there is an intermediary necessary between the sun and the earth; the sun does not descend to the earth, neither does the earth ascend to the sun. This contact is made by the rays of the sun which bring light and warmth and heat."  - Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks

As they walked into the room

The atoms screamed His Name

The power they exude

No force on earth can tame

To serve His Cause completely

Their one and only aim

The pillars of His guidance

The Ray's igniting flame

They feed the fire blazing

In hearts of every nation

Gently urging it to grow

Their guidance the foundation

Examples of devotion

His love's manifestation

Their presence on this earth a gift

Creator to creation

Pilgrimage Day 1: A Brilliant Flame Within the Sun

"The prayer of the prophets of God has always been, and still is: Oh God, I long to lay down my life in the path to Thee! I desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice." Abdu'l-Baha


To be steadfast as the stones on these paths

To be patient as the trees we walk past

To be fragrant as the rose that's in bloom

To see beauty in the dust and the gloom

To shine light upon the world as a lamp

To bring His love to others with His stamp

To fly above this world as a bird

To give my life as you did at His word

Your presence hidden in the Glory of your Lord

Your resting place the pivot of the prayers of all the world

Your deepest wishes answered in your sacrifice of love

Your worldly dust inseparable from that of your Beloved

Unquestioning obedience and a pure unhindered heart

Devotion the emotion which your memory imparts

You proved your faith completely, when you answered His request

And now forever in His arms your remains lovingly rest

30 Days of Creativity: Day 5 - A Perfect Heart

When a heart is touched
A connection is formed; A bond created
Two worlds collide; Two lives are changed
A piece of each heart exchanged

A heart untouched has never loved
No scar tissue; No lessons learned
One lost existence; One lonely soul
Not knowing that loss will make it whole

A friend is a companion you share your heart with
A piece given to them; A piece of theirs in its place
Not a beautiful operation; Not a perfect fit
But a place where the flame of love has been lit

A heart such as this has little of itself left
It is full of holes; It is covered in scars
Each hole a testament; Each scar a broken wall
But this shared heart is the most beautiful of all

30 Days of Creativity: Day 4 - A Quick Note on Love and Beauty

When the sun sets below the horizon

When the waves hit the shore

When the wind howls in your ears

When the rain begins to pour

When the lights turn off before you're ready

When your world crashes to the floor

Remember His strength, let go your fears

And allow His love to heal and restore

30 Days of Creativity: Day 2 - Ode to My Parents

They shared His light with me
They taught me how to pray
Their wisdom, the strength I turned to
When I knew not what to say

Their joy now shines through me
Their light guides my way
Their teaching, the foundation
On which I walk each day

30 Days of Creativity: Day 1 - Ode to a Dolphin

Light glistens off each wave
Your fins dance through the masterpiece
A breeze textures the rich ocean surface
My vision created for this wondrous purpose
To breathe in the beauty of your presence

Each piece of creation mirrors forth His beauty
Glimpses of His unknowable essence
The rock His Steadfastness, the candle His Light
Your existence reminds me to see with His sight
For your love and grace bring joy to my soul

Shrouded in Mystery

Shrouded in mystery

The veils before our eyes

This unique moment in history

Gazing at a beauty none can surmise

All walking in the same direction

Moving closer with every stride

Working toward our world's perfection

Your shrouded light our only guide

Let Your beacon of love shine bright

Give life to the dead and sight to the blind

Lift our hearts from despair's dark night

And unveil Your radiance to all mankind

Waiting for Them

Oh how I yearn

     to see their faces

     to hold their hands

     to shower them with love

     to watch them grow

     to guide their path    

     to teach and learn from them

     to share their joys

     to comfort their sorrows

     to fight off their fears

     to feel their love

     to care more deeply than I've ever known

     to love them from within my soul

I am here waiting

     for your gentle smiles

     for your joy filled laughter

     for your tiny fingers in my hand

     for your endless questions

     for your thoughtful wisdom

     for your unique and magnificent qualities

     for your unassuming wonder

     for your unconditional love

     for your unmistakable connection

     for your soul fulfilling presence

     for your world changing existence

     for your light to shine upon my life

A Joyous Day

A joyous day is the light in my life

The milestones of my past

On my future paths it is cast

It leads me forward with radiance and courage

Optimistically I move ahead

My soul afflame with the joy it was fed

This joy is the soundtrack of my life

My heartbeat, my measure

My deepest, cherished treasure

Without this blessed means of connecting 

I would surely perish and lose sight of what's real

But His mercy has given me this gift - to feel

(17-Mar-2011)

The Fast

This mystical month has come again

A time which no words can adequately represent

When our minds are purified from self and passion

Our souls rejuvenated by Your intoxicating scent

The tests come stronger, the pain deeply rooted

But the successes triumph and the losses are muted

We fast not for fear or self and desire

But as an outer token of our spiritual fast

A time for us to strive to acquire

The virtues of the truly ablaze and steadfast

To restrain ourselves from aught but Your love

And be carried away by your breath from above

Each hour of each day is endowed with a power

A virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee

That’s two hundred and twenty-four radiant hours

Of striving towards setting our higher selves free

Each hour a blessing of struggle and pleasure

Which through Your mercy we may cherish and treasure

"I ask of Thee by Thy Self and by him who hath fasted out of love for Thee and for Thy good-pleasure—and not out of self and desire, nor out of fear of Thy wrath—and by Thy most excellent names and august attributes, to purify Thy servants from the love of aught except Thee and to draw them nigh unto the Dawning-Place of the lights of Thy countenance and the Seat of the throne of Thy oneness."
 - Baha'u'llah