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2006 Poetry Contest

Honorable Mention, Adult Category, IWA member

A Poem
By Melissa Heidari

I 

You will remember
From days of yore
One lonely voice
Was heard to soar 

Soar
Far above the heavens
To the feet of the King
Feathers of white
Forever fleeing 

Fleeing
The nafs of men
Their swords of iced lead
Their hearts of stone
Their earthy bed

II 

But along the way
There in mid flight
He saw a gray pigeon
Besieged with blight 

The call of the Beloved
Shook his Heaven and Hell
But his pity was greater
And so he fell 

Fell
Back down to Earth
Soiled his Wings of white
To laugh with the bird
And cure its blight 

III

The pigeon had never seen
Such Glory as this
And clung to the Dove
In ecstasy and bliss 

"Don't leave dear Dove
You remind me of Him
When I am with you
I am free of all Sin" 

With the sound of the Call
Still filling his Heart
The Dove, with compassion
Delayed to depart 

IV 

"Dearest Pigeon
Do not despair
Just Remember
And I am there

 Friends of the Heart
Are forever One
Joined in the Beloved
Burned in the Sun 

So dear Pigeon
Grow your own wings and fly
And I promise I shall meet you
In the seventh Sky" 
 

V 

With a whisper he was gone
Gone forever from sight
But he is waiting for Pigeon
In the Sun at Midnight
 

VI

And such is the tale
Of a seeker and a Pir
Yet more awaits the Pigeon
As the far becomes near

In realms of pure being
The Way is a maze
The sight of the eyes
Is like the blind man’s gaze

The Dove sings a song
Of delight and despair
The Pigeon’s heart stirs,
Sighs, and comes aware

Aware
That it is seeing
And hearing in ways
Unknown to men
With nafs ablaze

The fires of nafs
Are a smoldering ash
The robe of blame tied
With the Dervish sash
 

VII

The breast is expanded
With a new and pure grace
The prism refracts and
Everywhere is His face

A new dumbness
Silence as words fail
The Pigeon cries out
“I am an infidel”

Then came a quiet voice
Whispering within
“A sincere repenter of faults
Is one whose sin has never been”

“Can one walk through water
Without wetting his feet?
The condition of the worldly;
No shelter from sin’s deceit."

Turning to the Dove
To the Guide of the Way
The Pigeon inquired
“How shall I pray”

The Pigeon was lost
Bewildered, crazed
As the song of the Dove
Thru seven heavens blazed

Blazed a Way
Straight and true
The order: “Say!
He is one”, not two
 

VIII

How shall you know
The beauty of unity?
Beset by duality
Acting with impunity?

Take heart little Pigeons
And look to the Dove
For it is from his Guidance
You will know this love

Do not strive for the Essence
For it is a veil of deepest black
Known only to Itself
The Most Hidden track

Look to the Friend
Who rends illusions veils
A mercy to worlds
Whose prayer never fails

Recite! As he recited
The Glorious revelation
Come to his path
The Way of salvation
 

IX

The Dove taught the Pigeon
Traditions of the sages
Telling of the first who
Recited the Holy pages

Insulted and reviled,
Besmirched with dust
One of his names
Is certainly “The Just”

As each day passed
His patience never faltered
The dust on his face
His expression never altered

Then passing by
The usual way
No dust, no dirt
Touched him that day

The Prophet paused
His step now faltered
Grasping a companion
The Messenger halted

“Where is the man
Who detests my step?”
“He is home” they replied
“Very sick in bed”

In a flash the Friend
Turned toward the man’s home
Enters the door
The sick man moans

“Have you come
To enjoy my pain?
Take vengeances now and
Reclaim your good name!”

The Holy one smiled
With a radiant grace
“There is no need
For me to save face

My Name is Justice
My duty is clear
As one Submitted
To the ill I am near

Near to give comfort
To soothe the soul
Bring peace to the sinner
Bring believers to a goal

It is you who must reclaim
The Divine Name in your heart
Seek knowledge of yourself
Toward the One depart!”
 

X

The words of the Prophet
Ring sweet and true
Though millennia may pass
The world is renewed

Renewed by his grace
By his wisdom’s light
Seek his beauty
In the depths of the night

Seek his names
And His Names will Be
Seek his face
From nafs be free

So you see little Pigeon
It is not me that you love
I am a slight reflection
Of the Pure One above

He is the mirror
Of Perfected Unity
Seek your Way
From his luminosity