Shortened Sight

My sight beheld the honeyed plane

In a place where no man would wish to be

It peered towards, infinity 

My sight shortened, and yet saw more

But not by eyes, not these instruments that glow. 

But by another, I cannot know 

Imagine if you but would 

The noblest of us all, rejected, cursed 

And made to run from children throwing stones 

And when the angel did appear to his command 

He offered a chance that their children might right 

The wrong they did that day, etched upon our memories 

So that when all Arabia in turmoil did revolt 

Not so the Children of Taif, they did not bend 

The Messenger’s hopes were well founded

But greater still those words laid out a choice 

Made clear that their chance would appear 

And thus it did and they proved true. 

The power of hope cannot be thwarted

Not by all false religions that brood with fear 

That cause men to wrong, to wrong .. 

and yet think they right. 

That they be justified in their denial 

Of God’s goodness being not restrained 

His hands are not tied, you fools, you lie

But peace is upon those who believe

And they do not have to be your people, your kin.  

No fear with attach to them, nor will they grieve. 

I was given the sight to know. 

That I would protected, in that worst of places 

That I would not stop, nor bend with fear

That I might offer the choice to one other

Who has proved true, this long year all through 

Let not fear, nor obfuscating argument be your screen 

Choose with your heart, and feel real. 

(C) Shafees, London 

9th October 2021