January 11, 2019
September 18, 2018
The King of Kings of the Covenant and the Monarch of Devotion – an ode by Mahmud Zarqani concerning the Master’s voyage to the West
and the Supreme Spirit of Persia
crossed the Atlantic Ocean,
Each second replete with joyful acclamations
exclaiming from the Cedric
That the King of Kings of the Covenant
and the Monarch of Devotion
had consented to come to America.
He was welcomed with open arms
and the earth became the envy of heaven.
Existence itself nudged the world of being
The sea raised its ceaseless voice
that the King of Kings of the Covenant
had consented to come to America.
On the tenth of April 1912 the illustrious and
beauteous Beloved reached New York
to a great and wondrous welcome,
While heavenly angels proclaimed the glad tidings
that the King of Kings of the Covenant
had consented to come to America.
- Mahmud Zarqani (‘Abdu’l-Baha’s secretary and chronicler
during His travels in the West ‘Mahmud’s Diary, vol. 1’)
June 22, 2018
April 20, 2018
To The Center of the Covenant: ‘Abdu’l-Baha - May the Souls of all Mankind be a Sacrifice to Him! – by Thornton Chase
Thou David of the Promised Kingdom of God!
Thou Princely Leader of all Humanity!
Thou Warrior against the Tribes of Infidelity!
Thou Conqueror of Darkness and Radiator of Light!
Thou Bearer of the Banner of Divine Peace and Prosperity to
the Nations!
Thou First Born in the Kingdom of Baha! Beloved of God and
Men!
Thou First Citizen of the Royal and Holy City!
Thou Branch of the LORD, Beautiful and Glorious!
Thou Greatest Branch from the Ancient Root!
Thou Fruit-bearing Branch of the Divine Tree!
Thou Host of the Divine Table!
Thou Cup-Bearer of the Divine Knowledge!
Thou Diffuser of the Holy Fragrances!
Thou Interpreter of the Revealed Word!
Thou Liver of the Baha’i Law!
Thou Heart of the World, sending the Blood of Truth through
the arteries of Humanity!
Thou Physician of Souls, raising the dead to Life by the Elixir of the Word!
March 12, 2018
February 20, 2018
January 15, 2018
October 10, 2017
A child's prayer - words adapted from a Baha'i prayer; music by Marion Wilcox
(Child's Way magazine, July-August, 1971)
August 14, 2017
June 3, 2017
Declaration of the Báb – by Kay Patcon
Shone bright upon the Persian scene.
Sent by God to bring His love
And His laws from above.
'Twas Mulla Husayn the Báb first told
About His Mission and trust to hold.
Dauntless, courageous, brave and true.
The Dawn-Breakers had a task to do.
Of fighting enemies of His Cause;
Only death could bring a pause.
Gaining victory for the Báb,
Imprisoned and hated by the mob.
Alas, the Báb was shot and dead,
But victory followed in His stead
For His Faith remained alive
And soon His Promised One arrived!
(Child’s Way Magazine, May-June, 1971)
February 25, 2017
January 19, 2017
November 13, 2016
An ode of Rúmí’s that Baha’u’llah wrote down for one of the believers to sing
‘Abdu’l-Baha tells us that : “At one time, Bahá’u’lláh had
written down an ode of Rúmí’s for him, [Ustád Ismá’íl] and had told him to turn
his face toward the Báb and sing the words, set to a melody. And so as he wandered
through the long dark nights, Ustád would sing these lines:
I am lost, O Love, possessed and dazed,
Love’s fool am I, in all the earth.
They call me first among the crazed,
Though I once came first for wit and worth.
O Love, who sellest me this wine, [1]
O Love, for whom I burn and bleed,
Love, for whom I cry and pine—
Thou the Piper, I the reed.
If Thou wishest me to live,
Through me blow Thy holy breath.
The touch of Jesus Thou wilt give
To me, who’ve lain an age in death.
Thou, both End and Origin,
Thou without and Thou within—
From every eye Thou hidest well,
And yet in every eye dost dwell.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Memorials of the Faithful’)
[1] This wine, Rúmí says elsewhere, comes from the jar of “Yea
verily.” That is, it symbolizes the Primal Covenant established between God and
man on the day of “Am I not your Lord?” On that day, the Creator summoned
posterity out of the loins of Adam and said to the generations unborn, “Am I
not your Lord?” Whereupon they answered, “Yea, verily, Thou art.” Cf. Qur’án
7:171.
September 11, 2016
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)July 20, 2016
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.
May 8, 2016
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) March 20, 2016
February 14, 2016
Ayyám-i-Há is Coming
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)August 17, 2015
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