Moshref

MOSHREF

I sat at your feet

With your love replete

Your quotes and logic

Know no defeat

With a sense of majesty

You doth show

With knowledge gained

Didst I grow

In my heart did you reach

as you did teach

showing me a love

from above

like the sages past

your faith steadfast

bestowing love upon me

showing my destiny

a treasure you are

a heavenly token

with a certitude unbroken

Of this I am sure

As I kneel here beside you

At the Masters feet

Will you be found

When my time comes

To leave this ground

You have respected me

One so undeserving

Your love and joy

Unswerving

From now on

As this journey doth go

Of this I know

A part of you will I keep

Within my heart, so deep

And each and every day

When love doth not show

Within my heart will I go

-Shiidon, June 2008

Most people of faith would say that we are entering a different epoch of human history. Our interpretations of this are different depending on the belief structure we adhere to. One of the changes I foresee is how we remember people. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, son of the founder of the Bahá’í Faith wrote a book of selected biographies called “Memorials of the Faithful.” In this book He describes the lives of individuals of note in early Bahá’í history. We read about their character, how they arose to serve mankind and most important, their stellar character.

We are souls that are preparing ourselves for the world beyond. We have animal instincts and needs yet a cognizant soul that aspires to reach out and beyond to fulfill a higher nature. When we remember someone we can do so on two different levels, we can choose to remember their weaknesses and failings or we can remember their character and service to others. It is the latter of these that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá memorializes in His book. One can say that to remember a person in their weaker times helps to see their higher nature. In the Bahá’í writings it is understood that when we pass on into the next realm of God, we do not take anything negative with us. Evil is not a substantive power in itself, it is the absence of good, only the good nature passes on. There is much negativity in this world already, let us focus on the good.

The subject of this poem is a dear soul that I knew for half of my life. He was a dear soul to me and he passed on this past week. On Sunday last week he was laid to rest. There is much about him and what he means to me that will not ever be publicly written.

I had the honor in the past few years to have had the opportunity to get to speak with Mr. Moshref on a one to one basis. We spent many hours at times discussing spiritual matters. He interpreted dreams that I have had as well as having shared with me some of his knowledge and wisdom. I have had the honor of serving with him for a time on the Spiritual Assembly of Austin. What I learned was this was a man of great depth, humility, honor and integrity. I am an avid reader of history of all kinds and of Bahá’í history in particular. Mr. Moshref reminded me of those early believers that I have read about in the history books. He was a connection to a time long gone. My parents are around the same age and I have to remember from time to time that they were born at a time when the daughter of Bahá’u’lláh was still alive.

II wrote this poem a few years ago when I felt that the time of separation was drawing near. I will miss him very much and the unconditional love he showered on me. The tears that have been shed are watering the path that will one day see me leaving this realm for the other. At the end of that path will be the loved ones that have gone before me and among them will be Mr. Moshref.