Tuje Chhodi Duje Dwaare Kyu(n) Jaave
Poem for Hazar Imam on the auspicious occasion of Imamat Day
I stare up at the brewing storm
its darkness looming over me;
thunder booming and lightning
a flash too close for comfort;
the negative charge drums
horrors louder than they are —
to distort my sense of direction,
to shake my faith with violent intimidation.
Frightened as a little lamb
I shut my eyes tight:
It feels like this moment
is the end of the world…
“Listen to what you know
instead of what you fear”
Richard Bach’s words
reverberate in my head;
And what do I know, with certainty?
I know — I know — You are here —
always here, never afar,
with me, within me, around me,
in every bearing and blessing.
You take my hand in Yours,
tugging me forward with kindness,
Your mercy an umbrella above me,
Your infinite love is my shield
against all the ails and hails,
but when You are here with me
fear is nothing — nothing — but an illusion.
I open my eyes to see
Your smiling face, Your gentle nods,
and before me all the darkness dissipates.
A path blooming with dandelions,
daffodils and fragrant frangipanis
looms into sight as if You have
gathered the jagged rocks
of a storm that once was,
and simply swept them aside,
making way for me to proceed
on my way to You, and only You,
do I wish my destination to be.
Zafeera is a teacher by profession, she also dabbles a bit in poetry, creative writing and amateur photography, all of which have become an integral part of her life. Zafeera is proud to live in Nairobi, the place our Imam mentioned as follows during His Golden Jubilee: “When I think of a place close to my heart, no place comes quicker to mind than Nairobi.” Zafeera is even prouder to be an Ismaili and wish to be inspired and write praises of Imam for as long as she can.
