MM Arts | Poetry Day | 7-5-11

Welcome, it’s our monthly Poetry day again! If you want to share your verses with everyone here, kindly email us at poetry[@]muslimmatters[.]org stating your name, along with your poem. As soon as your poem is selected for publishing, we’ll let you know so that you can keep an eye out for it, Insha’Allah.

Without further ado, here are the five lovely poems we’ve selected for today…

Coat of Arms
by Dayfa R.
It was a piece of cloth that distinguished her from the rest
A cloth that rests softly on her head
Wrapped tightly – Never to come off
An armor that gave her strength to defeat the war
Completely shielding her from all that is wrong

Willpower is what she has when she chooses to look the other way
Honor is what follows when she shows what Islam can be
Respect is what resides on her shoulders
for conveying a message so modestly
Leaving them in bewilderment for this is not
what they thought a piece of cloth could carry

It was a symbol of strength
An image of faith
A seal of purity
Complete modesty
Her Coat of arms

In deep silence and seclusion
I sit down and spread a parchment
I dip the nib of my pen and on it
I write words to hoard myself
And these words tell me the story
Of a land once lush and green
The people once living
Living for others
Living for love
Their hearts were young and brave
And smiles were contagious…
Now, they amble
In alleys darkened with voracity
With sunken eyes and ravenous looks
Existing on one another;
They live no more
At this, these words start to fade
When they tell me of time that grew old
Flowers wilted
And buds that were nicked before they’d sprouted
Nests that were crushed to gravel
And mountains severed through
When older and weaker
The hearts grew
I cry, and ask why
But my tears fill my vision
And the ink in my pen dries
And I find myself staring at the grim tale
In deep silence and seclusion.

____________________________________________

Eternal faith
by Saqib Hussain

I looked outside
And one word came into my mind:
Transience

And I saw that everything was temporary
And in the midst of this
We were trying to find something
Which was permanent

As an answer to our questions
Islam shows us the way
To everlasting peace

Through timeless principles
Such as love, peace, harmony
And sanctity of life

Let’s embrace our true nature
And engage in noble service to humanity

And love Islam
For it is love itself

_______________________________________________

The light to guide!
by Fathima A Sulaiman

He did not come to conquer this world
He did not need great fortune or fame
He lived a life – so simple and humble
He spoke good and just did what was right

Loved by his friends and family
He strove for the cause
The one true cause
To spread the message of truth and peace

They abused and ridiculed him
They still do
But he stood strong and held to his faith
Teaching mankind to do the same

The pain didn’t stop him
The laughter didn’t hurt
He went on
Opening the path

The only straight path in this jungle of life
The one true way to reach success and peace
The only clear way of living your life
Acceptable to the Creator of the universe

He loved children
He let them play on him
While he prayed
They loved him the same

He helped cook and clean
Even washed his own clothes
He joked and played
Even with a mission so huge

Just a human being like you and me
Known as the trustworthy one
A father, a husband, a leader and a son
A man chosen by God to lighten up the dark

He fought fearlessly
When it came to defense
He helped the needy
And guided the lost

His legend lives on
Powering the lives of millions everyday
He will never be forgotten
Come what may

And when he was dying in his wife’s arms
He feared nothing but the fate of his people
His tears – a message for us to live by
His life – a lesson for generations to come

_______________________________________________

Untitled
by Abu Sofian Eunos

Passed down from generations in a faraway land
Read by the believers, all from different clans
Those who could, everyday they would read
Made it a habit, and then a creed

Its splendor and magnificence can never be defined
Its vast healing properties could blow your mind
Diseases of the heart, it manages to cure
A soother for the soul, I’m very sure!
Yet despite all that it sits on the shelf
Neglected and left, not used for oneself
A shame to those who miss the opportunity
To reconcile in a book that promises serenity

Stories of battles courageously fought
Life lessons to me, they have taught
Let its teachings forever be ingrained
Carved into the soul and remembered when in pain

Open its cover and you’ll be surprised
How majestically written and so concise
A flow of notes sung in a tune
In the hands of a pro, anyone would be consumed

By the truth it utters in perfection
Its messages are clear you’ll see no contradiction
How could millions memorize cover to cover
Well, can any form of truth, from your tongue linger?

In tears many recite it only to weep
An emptiness to be filled, without a seep
Drenched with the words of guidance and virtue
Drowned by an unwavering faith that ensues

Read! If you do believe
Let its teachings be the message
Let your actions be the messenger
To those who sit unmoved, sleeping passengers