Virtues Rap

Verse 1

Now follow me closely, it won't take long.

Virtues are what bring humanity along.

We want you to know that we just don't get it.

Virtues are admired, but rarely get the credit.

Verses 2

Now you got your plants and your animals too,

But they got limits when compared to you.

It's boys and girls who are gonna win.

They're the ones who got Virtues within.

Verse 3

Now you got your kindness and patience galore.

Assertiveness and caring are great, that's for sure.

Courage, love and service and add some forgiveness

Is what the world wants to see, more of not less.

Verse 4

There are lots of virtues, that are really where it's at

Like cleanliness, respect and that little one, tact.

And even with our parents, courtesy's a hit.

The one called enthusiasm's our favorite.

Verse 5

We all know about honesty and justice.

Folks are keen on unity, you'll just have to trust us.

Determination, detachment, obedience, too –

With a little dash of reverence, we'll rap them to you.

Verse 6

Now all these virtues, you know they're just right

And that a man with no virtues is a lamp without a light.

With our virtues revealed, you'll give us the nod.

Hey, a world full of virtues is a world full of God.

Final Chorus

Without virtues,

You're nothin'.

WITH virtues,

You're SOMETHIN'.

(Brilliant Star, September-October 1999)

A Baha’i Mother – a poem by Sydney Sprague

[This incident occurred in Zanjan, Persia, in the Days of the Blessed Beauty, Baha'u'llah]

Alone within she stood; the crowd without,

With horrid taunting jeer and mocking shout,

Were making out of death a ghastly feast,-

As human blood is banquet for the heart.

She knew, alas too well, who was their prey;

In one brief hour they had snatched away

From out her arms, her own, her well-beloved.

Ah, for this crime was Heaven itself not moved!

Why should her boy, a tree of strength and truth,

Be struck down in the beauty of his youth?

Why should the wicked triumph o'er the good,

The lamb be given to the wolves for food?

Yet often, he to her this warning gave:

"Know thou, man cannot soul and body save,—

My soul I give to God; if others lust

For Bahai blood, then bravely die I must."

The woman remembered; strength came to her heart;

"O God," she prayed, "grant unto me a part

Of this day's sacrifice to Thee.

Orientation – a poem by May Maxwell

O thou divine Bird   

From gardens of light!   

Thy heart piercing song   

Hath shattered the night,   

Dispelling the gloom   

And flooding the air!   

The world bath not seen   

But felt thou wert there.     

O thou divine Rose   

From gardens of love!   

Thy form of substance,   

Thy breath from above,   

Exhales to the world   

A perfume so rare,   

That tho' still unseen   

We know thou art there.     

O thou divine Star   

From the realms on high!   

Thy radiant beams   

Fill earth, air, and sky!   

Bereaved of the Sun   

The world unaware   

Now turns to Its Glory   

And sees Thou art there!    

- May Maxwell  (Star of the West, Vol. 15, No. 4, July 1924)  

Songs from 1992 Baha'i World Congress in New York City

Ayyám-i-Há is Coming

Ayyám-i-Há is coming! Ayyám-i-Há is near!

Intercalay’s coming, the time for fun and cheer.

The Báb proclaimed that these are days that we give to the poor.

We have good food and give our gifts and open up our door, door, door, door,

door, door, door, door.

Ayyám-i-Há is coming! Ayyám-i-Há is near!

Intercalay’s coming, the time for fun and cheer.

The Báb proclaimed that these are days that we give to the poor.

We have good food and give our gifts and open up our door, door, door, door,

door, door, door, door.

(Child’s Way magazine, January-February 1978)

Jubliation

Talk about Love

(Child's Way Magazine, September-October 1982)

Festival of Ridvan - the "Most Great Festival"

Mona With The Children

by Doug Cameron

Song of the Months

Music by Jack Lenz

Congo Baha'i Youth Choir -- Baha'i World Center 2001

Muhajir - Persian Pioneering Song

Shine Your Light on Me

"All art is a gift of the Holy Spirit..." - 'Abdu'l-Baha

The Báb -- a poem by Robert Koehl written for the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb

O thou Morning Star:

  What flaming beauty Thine,

  Intoxicating men like wine,

To draw them from afar!

O Messenger of God:

  How great the need for Thee,

  And yet, Thy worth, how few could see

To walk where Thou has trod!

O Forerunner of the Kingdom:

  What Spirit hath Thine eyes shown forth,

  That twenty thousands saw its worth,

And followed Thee in martyrdom!

O Prophet of the Lord:

  Who for Thy Cause Thyself preserved,

  But finishing, men's laws observed,

And died for their accord!

O twofold Prince and Guide:

  Who mirrored forth Thy Lord,

  And gazed straight heavenward,

And saw Baha'u'llah, ere Thou hadst died.

O Reformer of this Day:

  What fiery accents used!

  What mighty laws infused

In men who sleeping lay!

O Primal Point:

  Thy mightiest Name adored –

  In which all Names are stored,

Who did men's souls anoint;

We ask to learn of Thee

  How power flows to men

  From out God's mighty Pen

And makes them truly free.

(The Baha'i World 1938-1940)

Remover of Difficulties

Is there any remover of difficulties save God?
Say praised be God He is God
All are His servants and all abide by His bidding.

The Friend of Understanding Love – a poem by Elizabeth Hackley

None but Thee can understand our hearts,
O Friend of Love Divine!
Tho we seek thru all the world for friends,
Whose love will be like Thine!
None but Thee can understand our failures,
And know our deepest need;
Only Thou canst lift us from ourselves,
Our burdened souls relieve.

None but Thee can satisfy our longing,
Our Father and our God!
None but Thee can understand our problems,
The road that we have trod.
Only Thou canst lead us out of darkness
And light in us increase;
Only Thou canst raise us from our death
In self, and give us peace!
(Baha’i Magazine, vol.24, no. 4, July 1933)

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Translated from the original Zulu

Baha'is of Swaziland

The Royal Falcon