Praise His Name

(A Photo of the entrance to the shrine of Baha'u'llah)


A few years ago I wrote a series of poems inspired by the Life and Mission of Baha'u'llah the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. I've decided to post a few of them as Baha'is around the world approach the Festival of Ridvan (meaning Paradise in 'Arabic) which begins April 21 and runs through May 2nd. This is the holiest time of the year for Baha'is as it marks the period when Baha'u'llah declared His Mission as the Manifestation of God for this Age. Enjoy this poem it is called, Praise His Name.

Born in Iran in the city of Tehran, adored baby boy unnoticed by the nations, little Husayn-‘Ali, long before language was the subject of sooth Sayers, philosophers, poets professors. His New Name adorned Torah, Gospel and Quranic pages, a promised child of all ages past, a present from Heaven packaged as an infant, object of His father’s dream filled with fish following His every movement over the Ocean of Being, untouched by the tumult, radiant, radiant. Descended from Abraham, Zoroaster, Jesse, ancient Persian Kings, He rejected earthly leadership; His friends were the poor and oppressed, the mistreated masses. He chose for his bride Asiyah, a mother of consolation and companion in all the worlds of God, together bearing fruit in Abbas and Bahiyyih, the Mystery of God and Greatest Holy Leaf. An untutored answerer of perplexing questions, He impressed and attracted ever heart in His orbit. When the Dawn finally broke He answered the call of the Primal Point ‘round which Prophets revolve, He arose to unlock the Gate of recognition in preparation for His own Station and Revelation.

Armored with the love of God He bore chains so cruel they had names. In the pitch black of the Pit He encouraged His companions: “God is sufficient unto me, He verily is the All-Sufficing, in Him let the trusting trust. In the gloom of that pestilent womb stirred the embryo of ancient prophesies fulfilled. A Heavenly maiden appear to this Prisoner promising victory through His Pen and His people. Arising again and again from the Fire of His suffering, from Baghdad, to Constantinople, the Land of Mystery, the penal colony, Akka, this Wronged One showed His ascendancy over every enemy. Small minded mullahs, ministers, even His own half-brother shattered themselves against this Tree that could not be passed.

Heroic souls crossed land and sea to behold the Face and hear the Voice of The Promised One of all Faiths. Lands long made holy by birthing Prophets once again united with their Beloved. Carmel and Sharon, Judea and Jerusalem rejoice, wilderness and wastelands made glad, kings highway lifted up on the mountainside where He pitched His tent revealing a future World Center to which all wandering tribes would return, from which the knowledge of God would cover the earth like the sea.

Advancing toward the end of a life of God sent sorrows; this Physician prescribed the remedy for the disease afflicting humanity, unity. He preserved this unity for prosperity through His Covenant, embodied in His son and Servant, and laid the foundations of a New World Order, the Kingdom of God anticipated since antiquity. Holy Son of Man returned in His Father’s glory, His name is praised ‘round camp fires in the Kalahari, in the halls of universities, in igloos, coffee shops, corporate suites, on inner city streets: Baha’u’llah, Baha’u’llah, Baha’u’llah, Baha’u’llah.