Forever

Today, 03 June 2014, will be 5 years I have been blessed to serve here in Haifa, Israel. I wrote this song in March of 2010 after I had been here about 9 months and it is as true now as it was then.

Adele Dodds is playing the piano.



I wanted to pick one photo for each year to share with you.... But that was impossible.... Here's the best I could do :)

Five years in Haifa:

August 2009 - Shrine of Baha'u'llah

December 2009 - The Negev

March 2010 - The Seat of the Universal House of Justice

June 2010 - Ben Gurion Avenue (photo taken by Adib Roy)

June 2010 - Baha'u'llah's Prison Cell Window in Akka

June 2010 - Paths of Stone

December 2010 - Sunset on a Haifa beach during the Carmel Forest Fires

April 2011 - Bahji Visitor's Centre through the flowers

June 2011 - Monument of Bahiyyih Khanum

June 2011 - Pilgrimage

January 2012 - Staff Entrance to the Seat of the Universal House of Justice
I had the amazing bounty of serving in this building for over 4 years. 

May 2012 - Flowers on the Hillel Stairs
(I lived on these stairs for 4 years) 

June 2012 - Mazra'ih 

July 2012 - Archives Building and the Shrine of the Bab

November 2012 - A bird cloud and Haifa Bay

March 2013 - The Shrine of the Bab from a view point behind the Seat

May 2013 - The Shrine of Baha'u'llah on Ascension night

October 2013 - Bahji at sunset

March 2014 - The Shrine of the Bab

May 2014 - House of Abdu'llah Pasha in Akka

May 2014 - Bahji

May 2014 - Bahji

Waiting for the Wind

An eagle majestically soars 
Letting the wind lift it high
Pure grace and beauty 
Gliding across the sky

It’s wings fully expanded 
Directed by the mighty force 
Of the wind pushing it forward
Guiding its purpose, its course

When the wind begins to calm
The eagle perches on a height
Watching the earth below it
Waiting for movement, for insight

While other birds waste their energy
Flapping around with no direction
The eagle patiently observes and waits
For the guidance and strength of the wind’s protection

Sometimes we must be like eagles 
Patiently waiting for the winds to blow
For God’s confirmation will always guide us
When our movement and stillness are directed by its flow

This poem feels kind of like the next step after another poem I wrote titled "Fighting with the Wind" - http://shira19.blogspot.co.il/2012/11/fighting-with-wind.html.

Little One

A peace I haven't felt in years

Wafts over me as I sit here with you

All tension and worry disappears

And a quiet calm seeps through

The birds outside sing of the joys of God's grace

As in my arms you drift in gentle sleep

A smile softly flickers across your little face 

Oh my precious one, slumber deep

Dream of the world you will help to create

Of the brilliance your generation will bring to this earth

A world where love always conquers hate

And the beauty of your soul is what defines your worth

With your little hand wrapped around my finger

I yearn for our world to mature and transform

Into a place where purity and innocence linger

And trust and compassion are our culture's norm

The light you have brought, with your giggles and smiles

Has illumined our lives like the sun

Though your path may be filled with beautiful trials

You will never walk alone, my little one

A Martyr's Gift

27 years ago today, on June 10th, 1986, the day that I was born, a man named Farid Bihmardi was martyred in Iran. He was imprisoned for 22 months, 9 of which were spent in solitary confinement, he was not allowed access to his family or friends, was tortured, kept in horrible conditions and brutally murdered simply because he was a member of the Baha'i Faith and was serving at the time on a body of nine individuals charged with keeping track of the administrative affairs of the community of believers in Iran. 

His martyrdom though an immensely important event in my own life, was not a singular occurrence, since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 the Baha'is of Iran have been intensely persecuted. There are currently over 100 Baha'is imprisoned in Iran, some because they were striving to provide education to the Baha'i Youth in Iran who are being systematically kept from obtaining university degrees, some because of their efforts to be a part of the social transformation of their communities, and seven individuals for doing exactly the same thing that Farid was martyred for - for administering the social and religious affairs of the Baha'i Community in Iran. 

These seven individuals were imprisoned five years ago and two years later were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. The longest sentence of any prisoners of conscience currently held in Iranian prisons. 

I am inspired by their strength and perseverance, and I pray with all my heart that their trials and tribulations be lifted soon. And I pray that they know that their sacrifices have not been for nothing, that their strength and courage have inspired millions of people around the world, of which I am just one. 

I wrote the following song to honor a man, whom I have never met, a man who brought joy and radiance to his fellow prisoners, who was a light and a beacon of love and Faith to all who met him. A man who has impacted my life in ways far beyond the range that my small song can express. 

A Martyr’s Gift

[verse 1]

As a baby I was taken to His shrine

On the threshold I was lain as a silent prayer

A prayer that His protection would be mine

That His guidance and love would always be there

And it has been all through my life

For you have always been with me

A calming strength in times of strife

A guide and friend endlessly

[chorus 1]

O Farid, O Farid

Your selflessness and grace

Has brought me to this place

You’ve been my light in the darkest night

My eyes when I had lost my sight

You gave me strength to do what was right

With the love you released as your soul took flight

[verse 2]

Walking down the path tonight

You take each step as I do

All that has passed and all that might

Has been and will be done for you

As your joyous soul was set free

On that radiant and blessed morn

It forever connected you and me

For that was the day that I was born

[chorus 2]

O Farid, O Farid

Your selflessness and grace

Has brought me to this place

You’ve been my light in the darkest night

My eyes when I had lost my sight

You gave me strength to do what was right

For I was born as your soul took flight

[bridge]

Taken before your time was through

For His Cause you lived and died

My life and death I give to you

O Martyr, watching from on High

[chorus 2]

Here are a few links in relation to the persecution of Baha'is in Iran and specifically in relation to Farid Bihmardi:

http://www.iranpresswatch.org/

http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/publications/reports/3149-a-faith-denied-the-persecution-of-the-baha-is-of-iran.html?p=29#.UbJXkPaY__Q

http://foadmanshadi.wordpress.com/category/bahai-human-rights-news/page/2/

Thank you to Sepher Fanaeian for playing the flute in the song.

All the pictures in the video are mine, except for the two with captions which are from the Baha'i World News Service website (http://news.bahai.org/human-rights/iran/iran-update/) and the last one (http://www.iranrights.org/english/memorial-case-15312.php).

Fighting with the Wind

A bird flies on the wings of time, 

high in the skies above

Feathers strain to maintain their rhyme, 

as in vain he fights for his love

But what of the call of the wind's harsh might, 

as he is hauled in the thralls of its grip

Pulled away from his goal as day becomes night, 

a toll he will pay for this trip

Each second ignites the wind's burning wrath, 

as it delights in his sight's blurring vision

In a daze he's pulled sideways off of the path, 

his gaze had always envisioned 

As his strength declines he refines and amends, 

the signs he has been handed

What if the shore he swore to defend,

was the war that was keeping him stranded?

Surrendering his goal he gives over control, 

and his whole being is stilled

For infinite possibility lies with a soul,

that flies in the skies of God's Will

Light and Shadows

Why do you weep?
In darkness alone. 
Silence your only friend
In a graveyard of stone. 

Why do you hide?
With these ghosts of bygone times 
And climb into the graves
Of self-inflicted crimes

Why do you yearn? 
For the dawn's first brilliant rays
Yet walk alone in blindness
In the clutches of night's maze

Why do you dream?
Of a life you hold at bay
Haunted by the choices
And scars you won't betray

If you look into the shadows
Tween the sun, the earth and moon
You'll find no respite from the wails
Of time's eternal tune

So learn to walk towards the light
Past the gates of endless fear
And you'll find hearts waiting for you
To invite them to draw near

A Captain's Log

Lightning crashes

Within the confines of my mind

Reverberating through my body

Its electricity confined

Thunder screams

All nerves express their pain

The vibration of its echoes

Usher in the rain

Water gushes

In cascades of raging confusion

Or trickles of soft torment

A channel to seclusion

Storms rage on

Amassing hopes and fears

Silent destructive ravagers

Lasting moments or years

Realization wafts

As temperatures begin to warm

That we are each the captains

Of our own internal storms

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

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

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 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)

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

The True Self

On the wings of Your Faith, I fly
Soaring above it all, a tiny dot in a vast blue sky
Longing for reunion, aflame with Your love
Above all the pain, as Noah's white dove
Your presence quenches the blazing fire
A calm fills me, and I am lifted higher

With wind cradling my mortal wings, I soar
Joy enrapturing my essence, creeping down to my very core
Light shining through, a tiny vision caught
A realization, a newly formed thought
This bird in the sky, not the shadow below
Is the true form of "I", what sets me aglow

The Same Moon

The moon out my window
Shines bright like the sun
A reminder each night
That the whole world is one

No matter the barriers
Or the hatred we croon
When we lay our heads down
We all see the same moon

The Waves of Life

She felt the waves roll through her
As they poured into the shore
Their elegance and beauty
Soared across her core
Deep inside her mind and heart
Were solemnly at war
But this time she was determined
Not to fear them as before

Standing up, she took a step
To face her fear and pain
As she walked in, the waves were harsh
No chance to breathe, no tread to gain
No matter how she struggled forward
She always fought in vain
For when the waves came strong and cruel
They took back what she obtained

Just as she was giving up
When she’d lost all will to try
A hand was stretched out to her
Someone had heard her cry
He held her firmly in His grip
And with Him by her side
No matter how they growled and roared
The waves flowed simply by

A Wayfarer's Journey to Her Beloved

Lost and alone, confused and afraid
Not knowing what lay ahead
I searched my heart for His love and His aid
Guiding me to the path I should tread

When receiving the letter, emotions ensued
Joy mixed with heart stopping fear
The plane ride alone, a test of fortitude
The end of my Search drawing near

Traveling closer, overwhelmed and alight
No thoughts could enter my brain
That black and gold gate, a soul stirring sight
A moth in Love with a flame

Setting foot in the land of the lovers I saw
The reasons for all that had passed
Recognition and thankfulness filled me with awe
And a Knowledge of love eternal and vast

I walked down the path at one with His essence
Seeing Him in the stones and the trees
Detaching from self, my souls’ transcendence
Embraced by His Uniting breeze

As I walked through that historical gate
My soul was radiant with joy
The lack of shrouding and veils bade me wait
And with Contentment, I gazed at His Glory

With every step forward a new sight beheld
Each breath filled with awe and with trust
Lost in His Oneness all “sanity” quelled
In the whirlwind of Wonderment thrust

As I open that door, the self’s left behind
I breathe and my soul’s set aflame
All that’s left is His love, to the world I am blind
Poverty and Nothingness, my claim

Learning to Soar

Thoughts stir, when reading Your words
Lost in the world, the cheeping of birds
Yearning to focus, beginning again
I see the beauty, which flowed from Your pen

But then by the webs of the world I’m assailed
As I lose focus, Your beauty is veiled
My vision is clouded, I see only dust
Created by fear and a lack of trust

There are times I feel I am grasping at air
Searching for You, but left unaware
Caught in a web, I've spun for myself
Unable to find within me Your wealth

Imprisoned in the valley of search
Looking for love on which to perch
I can feel it there just out of reach
But the self holds me back, dampens my speech

Blinds my eyes, and grabs hold of my mind
Until I forget what I'm trying to find
Struggling to fly with my wings stuck together
A bird weighed down by the world's dross and fetters

I fall, crashing to the earth below
Losing sight for a time of the love You bestow
Thinking only of self I worry and fear
Until Your confirmations draw me near

You pull me away, untangle the net
And remind me of something I often forget
That thoughts of self dampen the soul
While thoughts of You make me whole

I take a deep breath, and strive once more
Begging forgiveness, praying to soar
On the wings of Your love, a hairs breath longer
To learn from the past, my wings made stronger

I begin to pray, feeling the warmth of your fire
Your light and essence my only desire
And deep in the depths of my soul I aspire,
To someday be ablaze upon Your burning pyre.

Empty Chairs and Broken Chimes

Memories of life unknown
Confusion and joy intertwined
Sadness envelopes this heart of stone
Lost words hidden from the blind

Empty hollowness builds
Fearing loss and pain
The dripping sanity stilled
Falling steadily with the rain

Sighs unheard and unseen
Fabricated smiles shine
Holes rip through the spleen
Lines of everything fine

Loneliness settles unsuspecting
Good-byes choke the tongue
Fortresses of steel erecting
Recalling songs no longer sung

Entangled in the webs of self
The bite of death encroaches
Time creeps up on you in stealth
The hour of loss approaches

Nostalgic thoughts of joys now lost
Haunting joys of present times
Freezing in the winter frost
Empty chairs and broken chimes