Abbas’ Eulogy Breaks Me,
Shakes Me,
It Shatters my Soul,
But it Awakens me!
My emotions stir, my tears flow,
Oh Abbas accept what little we know!
I close my eyes, and reminisce that I stand,
Between two shrines in the Holy Land,
Abbas on my left, Husayn on my right,
In my mind I begin to play, the battle’s sight.
How he valiantly rode his horse into war,
His strength, his courage, their pleading he saw!
How he asked for permission, to fetch water for their thirst,
Abbas the son of Haider, this battle not his first.
He continued to ride, reaching closer to the banks
Yazid’s army surround him, ranks upon ranks!
No mercy for the children, wretched souls they were
Revenge for their forefathers, not a single heart did stir!
Water he had, now to get back to the tents,
Oh how resolute was Abbas, yet nobody relents!
Arrows they fired, swords came striking down
One arm after the other, Abbas was alone
The mashk clenched in his teeth, the camps so near,
Not swords or arrows, not making it back was his fear,
Sakina’s voice rang in his ears, Chacha’s bringing water!
The arrow pierced through the mashk, and Abbas faltered
No hope, no return, no water, just tears,
No mashk, no Sakina, just covered in spears,
Salaams upon you, my Master, he cried
As his body hit the ground, his hopes also died
No arms to fall onto, no hands to assist,
All that he had shattered, his soul didn’t resist.
Abbas’ last battle, not because he was defeated,
This sacrifice was destined, Husayn’s mission completed