A Silent Wound

Alone in your house
Your husband busy
The silence is suffocating you
Be patient Zeinab-
Yours is to be a slow suffocation

Your brother's smiling face
Will never appear outside your window
No! that knock isn't him
He has left you.

You are alone.
Except for the people of Medina
Who want to hear all about your sufferings!

Tell us again how they beat you?
Show us your scars - the one under your left arm
Yes! the one with the big bruise
Oh what a tragedy-
Let us cry now for you.

Do their tears comfort you?
Or are you already dead?
Floating about in decayed skin
Rotting amongst them.

Death is not for you Zeinab
It is a relief you will have to wait for
For you have the treasures of this world-
The joy of life!

Whispers in the night
Wake you
What is it?
Sakina's moans?
No, no Zeinab - she remained in Damascus
She has joined her father.

You can't sleep?
Well wake up Abdullah-
How when he sees you
He will wail and cry
"OH MAULA HUSSAIN! HUSSAIN!! HUSSAIN!!"

Run Zeinab !
Run!
And don't stop to look at
Aun and Muhammad's empty mattresses-
They to have left you too.
Your memories enfold you
There's no escape
Oh look there's Sajjad
Weeping to his Lord
Crying blood.

Where will you run to?
Rasul's grave?
How can he bear to see you
Now you have been defiled?
The shame is too much for you
To bear
So where my lady
Where .................?

A stranger approaches you in the street-
"Come my lady let me comfort you"
Thank her Zeinab.
She weeps softly
Her tears falling on your face
Startling you
Who is this person
Who has shown you mercy

Mercy - that's what you long for
Zeinab
Sleep Now Zeinab.
Sleep-
For you have found it
In your mother's arms.

* By: Sister Fiddha