He walked the banks of rivers

This poem is about the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, titled “Baha’u’llah” which means “Glory of God”, as He was banished for a time, to Baghdad. He wrote words for the world to come together as one, recognizing ourselves as one humanity, under one God, Who has spoken to us through various Messengers over our time on earth. Today is the time we need to learn to live as one people on this planet. He said we can do it easily and peacefully, or it will come after much suffering and devastation. Looks like we have chosen the latter. But our eventual unity is inevitable. It’s the only way we will survive. 

He walked the banks of rivers

writing words for the world,

walked along the Euphrates

and Tigris,

a prisoner of the Ottomans,

banished from His home,

His Words were flowers

to bring peace to all mankind,

For a time, He consorted

with the Sufis and the mystics,

He wrote the Seven Valleys

in Baghdad,

He summoned Kings and Rulers

to reduce their armaments,

to compose their differences,

bring justice to all,

— but the leaders turned away,

we now see the result

of fresh wars being waged

where He stood,

and I cannot help but wonder

if fresh blood is being spilled

on the banks of the rivers

where He strolled,

Oh Baghdad, are you not tired

of the killing on your soil?

Can you not rise up and stop them,

bring peace to the world?

For there is no turning back,

There is no other way

but to love all the world

as one,

We are “fruits of one tree,”

“flowers of one garden,”

We must learn to live

as one family.

cfblack  01-07-2020

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