Prologue

“…In The Name Of Ra-man-athara, hear then these words and hearken!

 

A house I have in the city

It is beautiful to my eye

White and clean and tall are its walls

Its windows are like Istrea stone

Shady and cool is its courtyard

Bedecked by a lush green garden

I behold, and am glad to have

My house in the city I love

 

I come to my city-house now

Along the dusty streets I seek

Keenly my feet recall its ways

Until, upon my gaze it rests

Then from without, I know some wrong

Has sullied its former beauty

And now to behold it I weep

In the dust of the city street

 

‘Come and see’, the walls whisper me

‘Come and confirm your thoughts and fears’

‘The Master has returned’, they hail

As upon worn doorstep I tread

‘Do not so place your foot on me’,

The wood speaks.  ‘I serve thee no more’

‘I am your kin, welcome me in!’,

I say.  ‘Come see’, walls whisper me

 

Into the courtyard, urgently

Yonder sunbeam, it warms my brow

The garden I once planted here

Is rank and twisted; darkness reigns

Branch, vine and thorn for light contest

And so they maim and pierce and choke

Their neighbour.  ‘Madness, folly here!’

Unheard I shout.  Walls bid me on

 

As broken staircase I ascend

I note my precious windowpanes

Have lost their lustre, dull they seem

‘How hast thy gleams faltered?’  I ask

‘The blazing sun on our faces,’

‘The dry winds, dust and hail’ they chant

‘But carers I left.’  I reply

Their retort; ‘We did bid them leave!”

 

 

‘Come and see’, the walls whisper me

As to my balcony I mount

I could purvey my house.  But find, 

This vista obscured by gnarled rock

‘I laid strong stones to hold this house

Why have you overstepped your bounds?’

‘We’ve held enough, now we exalt’

‘Exalt?’  I ask ‘Without a base!’

 

‘What evil has beset my house?

Once, fair and full of such promise?

In craft I set my image here

A Temple to you, my children!’

‘So you have seen’ Walls whisper now

‘You placed us here to keep these free

From ignorance, strife, apathy

And vain pride.  Unheard we have been’

 

‘All of these shook for joy’ Said I

‘When laid, given form.  To endure,

They pledged, now their oath’s forsaken

And fast come this house’s ruin

I’ll keep those precious parts that yearn

To join me with my Sanctuary

 And with me find their joyful rest

They must seek the One whom I’ll send…’”

 

 

Hashu Baal Ha, 3^rd refrain

From the records, as kept by Jahadreel Raheed