To Lead The Way, Flowers In Flames,2nd Edition Poem by Matloob Bokhari

POEM TITLE: TO LEAD THE WAY
POET: MATLOOB BOKHARI
COUNTRY: PAKISTAN
I walked in woods, on trails
In the company of heaven, nature and God
I walked with glorious pride on the path of life
Spoke with His voice with confidence and love
Thought about man's inhumanity to man
Cursed those sowing seeds of injustice
Spoke up for the poor and helpless
Voiced against those who oppressed the people and increased their wealth
Enlightened the minds, preached goodness to all
Preached that forgiveness is superpower in the world of peace
Wrote about poverty, love and freedom
Dreamt to change the world for better
My lines raised conscience, provided lifeblood for revolution
I wrote against the exploiters who wrapped themselves in the cloak of religion
Children of freedom danced to the music of the melodies of my words
The cruel dirty minds asked me not to speak my mind
The exploiters called me a liar, persecuted me
For spreading dangerous thoughts against religion, politics
The small people burnt my poems so my thoughts may fly away
The fire burning in my heart refused to extinguish
My pen wrote "No not never I will compromise on my dreams! "
I was fastened to poles, left to die gradually agonizingly
I asked "O my God! O my Lord! O All-Informed, What is my fault? "
The Sovereign Truth replied:
"You were flying on your wings, that is your fault
You were living in a society, afraid of embracing the light of truth, that is your fault
You were living in a society, where people prefer to hide in darkness, that is your fault
You wrote sweet songs of peace, democracy and justice, that is your fault
You wanted to liberate the people crushed to the ground, that is your fault
You dreamt to unlock the rusting shackles of oppression, that is your fault
You tried to wipe the tears of those with no voices, that is your fault.
You gave tongue to the tears of those, whipped and silenced, that is your fault.
Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall return
At last, I was punished to death for teaching the vital truth
For ever, my soul praised the Sovereign Truth! left my body with an endless flow of thankfulness
My body was buried in the silent unanswered grave
And my soul joined the raining clouds in the blue sky
All of us, all of us, all of us will perish except Everlasting God.