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

Revelation

It falls, heavy and thick

Engulfing everything, nothing left unaffected

It pours, steady and quick

Purifying all creation, bringing life to the dejected

It streams, unhindered and transcendent

Enlivening the weak, giving sustenance to the sorely tried

It flows, undeterred and resplendent

Forging a new world, for those who put their egos aside

Proof of God's Existence

Your proof can be seen in the enchantment of a song

The beauty of a rainbow

The awe of inspiration

Your proof can be seen in the grace of a swan

The gentleness of falling snow

The joy of confirmation

Your essence can be seen in the purity of a child

                The kindness of a stranger

                The complexity of our world’s design

Your essence can be seen in the warmth of a smile

                The joint hope for a brighter future

                The unity of all mankind

'Abdu'l-Baha

Your light is the beacon which guides my way
Your example, the lens I look through each day
Your actions, a standard by which I judge my own
Your love, my constant companion as I've grown

You are my solace in times of sorrow
You are my reason for seeing tomorrow
You are my hope when all seems lost
You are my warmth in the winter's frost

Remembrance of You brings joy to my heart
A joy which nothing can force to depart
Your love is my light and Your deeds are my guide
And I know, in my heart, You will always reside

Sensing Spirituality

The shores of Your ocean

Can be tasted through Your word

Your voice of Truth

Can be understood, if heard

The fire of Your love

Can be felt if we reach

The essence of Your message

Will be seen when we teach

The purpose of this life

Is the fragrance of Your beauty

Striving to attain Your Presence

Is our most sacred duty

Jumping

My soul is screaming to jump

With no fear of hitting the ground

Trusting that I will be caught

My heart no longer earthly bound

But staring at the edge I’m struck

Terror seeps into my core

Drowning any objectivity

My mind and heart deeply at war

Frozen before I’ve even begun

The potential lain ahead

Leering and taunting me to jump

While suffocating me with dread

If I never jump I may never know

If I’ve found my answering call

But what if I jump with utter trust

And instead I only fall?

Putting it all Together

A source of strength and love
In the dark a guiding light
A picture of beauty and grace
A most beautiful and wondrous sight

A mystifying inner calm
That can quiet any weather
I wish you could see that
You already have it all together

The loyalty of your friends
Is a testament to you
Of the inner essence of who you are
The love you can't help but shine through

Your thirst for knowledge and understanding
And sincerity with no pretense
The indiscriminate kindness you share
And the wisdom you dispense

These are all pieces of the resplendent puzzle
That put together is who you are today
While the picture may change as your soul is honed
Your essence and beauty will forever stay

My True Friend

My eyes tear up just thinking of the day you will depart

          My true friend from the start,

          The one who sees my heart

It feels too soon to say good-bye, too soon to let you go

          The winds of time so quickly blow,

          Didn't we just say hello?

It feels like only yesterday we sat and talked for hours

          As our friendship’s lovely flowers,

          Bloomed with Godly showers

Didn't I just come to you with sadness on my face?

          And with a deep embrace,

          You filled me with His Grace

The bonds of love I feel for you are deeper than the ocean

          This wondrous emotion,

          An unswerving devotion

I already have a hole inside though you haven’t even left yet

          That date a silent, heavy threat,

          Of teary eyes and hearts upset

And yet I know deep in my heart that all I will ever have to do

          To feel God's love and be renewed,

          Is close my eyes and think of you