Tabriz

TABRIZ

One summer day

Towards destiny

I did find my way

We marched to

That fateful square

Towards events

of which, we were unaware

One more step

I would not have taken

Had I known how much

My soul would be shaken

We stood at last

Before the crowd

So many, so loud

Before us stood The One

Whom from this earth

We were to take

A Holy man

Could this be, a mistake?

I watched our leader

Approach the wall

He spoke with respect

The conversation direct

As he towards us, did approach

Upon his face, we saw reproach

He directed us to form ranks

We obeyed his orders

Many faces blank

Suspended before us

The Holy one I saw

A youth before him did rest

Their radiant faces

Showing their best

I cannot say what happened then

We raised our rifles and took aim

The orders given

I look back in shame

The smoke from the countless guns

Filled the square

The silence deadening

To speak, no one would dare

All we could do was stare

Slowly as the smoke did clear

I beheld a sight

That drew me near

Before us stood unharmed

That same youth

As though charmed

The Holy one did disappear

The mood both awe and fear

With great relief did I see

Our commander order us to leave

We marched away that day

No longer a Holy one would we slay

The events of that day

With me did stay

For others I cannot say

But I fired my last shot

On that fateful day

-Shiidon, October 2009

I have mentioned reading about the early history of the Bahá'í Faith. This came to me and would not leave me alone until I put it into writing. I thought about what it might have felt like to be one of the 750 soldiers that comprised the first firing squad that were charged with taking the life of the Báb. The commander, a Christian, spoke of his trouble with the Báb. He did not want to be responsible for taking the life of a holy man. The Báb informed him that if he was sincere that God would remove him from his difficulty. Though unbelievable to some, in front of 10,000 witnesses the Báb did disappear and the youth that was suspended before Him was standing unharmed. They did find the Báb in his very cell finishing his conversation with his secretary. At that point He said that He had finished His business and they could do with him what they would. The regiment refused to take part again and marched out. Another was found to take their place and this time succeeded in taking the life of the Báb and the youth with Him. Miracles are for those who experience them. I believe in these events. I believe in His Holiness Jesus Christ walking on water, I believe that Moses parted the red sea. However, my belief in all the aforementioned Holy ones is not dependent on those miracles but on the word of God that they revealed to mankind.