You Turned Volcanoes to Springs

Mujeeb Jaihoon’s glowing tribute to the late visionary leader of Kerala Muslims, Shihab Thangal, fondly called, The Mahatma of Malabar.

Day and night,
You thought about us.

Awake and sleep,
Your heart ached for us.

Your dream:
To see us in peace play;
Your prayer:
In bed of unity we lay;
Our young ones to prosper;
Knowledge be their soul’s whisper.

Your only wish for our good:
Not a drop be shed of our blood.

With your wisdom you saved:
Away from the venom we moved.

Love was your weapon,
Your words with it sharpened.

Volcanoes turned to springs,
With a smile you untied strings.

You were our sincere mirror;
Of our fortune, not error.

Time called you,
The Fiery Star:
You only sang love,
With your sitar.

May 27 2010. Edit Sep 2024