~The City of the Dead XX~
Yesterday I drew myself from the noisome throngs and proceeded into the field until I reached a knoll upon which Nature had spread her comely garments. Now I could breathe.

I looked back, and the city appeared with its magnificent mosques and stately residences veiled by the smoke of the shops.

I commenced analyzing man's mission, but could conclude only that most of his life was identified with struggle and hardship. Then I tried not to ponder over what the sons of Adam had done, and centered my eyes on the field which is the throne of God's glory. In one secluded corner of the field I observed a burying ground surrounded by poplar trees.

There, between the city of the dead and the city of the living, I meditated. I thought of the eternal silence in the first and the endless sorrow in the second.

In the city of the living I found hope and despair; love and hatred, joy and sorrow, wealth and poverty, faith and infidelity.

In the city of the dead there is buried earth in earth that Nature converts, in the night's silence, into vegetation, and then into animal, and then into man.

As my mind wandered in this fashion, I saw a procession moving slowly and reverently, accompanied by pieces of music that filled the sky with sad melody. It was an elaborate funeral. The dead was followed by the living who wept and lamented his going. As the cortege reached the place of interment the priests commenced praying and burning incense, and musicians blowing and plucking their instruments, mourning the departed. Then the leaders came forward one after the other and recited their eulogies with fine choice of words.

At last the multitude departed, leaving the dead resting in a most spacious and beautiful vault, expertly designed in stone and iron, and surrounded by the most expensively-entwined wreaths of flowers.

The farewell-bidders returned to the city and I remained, watching them from a distance and speaking softly to myself while the sun was descending to the horizon and Nature was making her many preparations for slumber.

Then I saw two men laboring under the weight of a wooden casket, and behind them a shabby-appearing woman carrying an infant on her arms. Following last was a dog who, with heartbreaking eyes, stared first at the woman and then at the casket.

It was a poor funeral. This guest of Death left to cold society a miserable wife and an infant to share her sorrows and a faithful dog whose heart knew of his companion's departure.

As they reached the burial place they deposited the casket (coffin) into a ditch away from the tended shrubs and marble stones, and retreated after a few simple words to God. The dog made one last turn to look at his friend's grave as the small group disappeared behind the trees.

I looked at the city of the living and said to myself, "That place belongs to the few." Then I looked upon the trim city of the dead and said, "That place, too, belongs to the few. Oh Lord, where is the haven of all the people?"

As I said this, I looked toward the clouds, mingled with the sun's longest and most beautiful golden rays. And I heard a voice within me saying, "Over there!"

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*"Learn alll the Rules so that u know how to Break them ...

*if Your Words are not SUCH Powerful as Your Silence Then "Shut-up" !

*~The Widow and Her Son *~Night fell over North Lebanon and snow was covering the villages surrounded by the Kadeesha Valley, giving the fields and prairies the appearance of a great sheet of parchment upon which the furious Nature was recording her many deeds. Men came home from the streets while silence engulfed the night.

In a lone house near those villages lived a woman who sat by her fireside spinning wool, and at her side was her only child, staring now at the fire and then at his mother.

A terrible roar of thunder shook the house and the little boy shook with fright. He threw his arms about his mother, seeking protection from Nature in her affection. She took him to her bosom and kissed him; then she say him on her lap and said, "Do not fear, my son, for Nature is but comparing her great power to man's weakness. There is a Supreme Being beyond the falling snow and the heavy clouds and the blowing wind, and He knows the needs of the earth, for He made it; and He looks upon the weak with merciful eyes.

"Be brave, my boy. Nature smiles in Spring and laughs in Summer and yawns in Autumn, but now she is weeping; and with her tears she waters life, hidden under the earth.

"Sleep, my dear child; your father is viewing us from Eternity. The snow and thunder bring us closer to him at this time.

"Sleep, my beloved, for this white blanket which makes us cold, keeps the seeds warm, and these war-like things will produce beautiful flowers when Nisan comes.

"Thus, my child, man cannot reap love until after sad and revealing separation, and bitter patience, and desperate hardship. Sleep, my little boy; sweet dreams will find your soul who is unafraid of the terrible darkness of night and the biting frost."

The little boy looked upon his mother with sleep-laden eyes and said, "Mother, my eyes are heavy, but I cannot go to bed without saying my prayer."

The woman looked at his angelic face, her vision blurred by misted eyes, and said, "Repeat with me, my boy - 'God, have mercy on the poor and protect them from the winter; warm their thin-clad bodies with Thy merciful hands; look upon the orphans who are sleeping in wretched houses, suffering from hunger and cold. Hear, oh Lord, the call of widows who are helpless and shivering with fear for their young. Open, oh Lord, the hearts of all humans, that they may see the misery of the weak. Have mercy upon the sufferers who knock on doors, and lead the wayfarers into warm places. Watch, oh Lord, over the little birds and protect the trees and fields from the anger of the storm; for Thou art merciful and full of love.'"

As Slumber captured the boy's spirit, his mother placed him in the bed and kissed his eyes with quivering lips. Then she went back and sat by the hearth, spinning the wool to make him raiment.

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*"Learn alll the Rules so that u know how to Break them ...

*if Your Words are not SUCH Powerful as Your Silence Then "Shut-up" !

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*"Learn alll the Rules so that u know how to Break them ...

*if Your Words are not SUCH Powerful as Your Silence Then "Shut-up" !

its really enchanting and captivating
thumbs up Erum!, ,,,you r really doing a gr8 job

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[SIZE="4"]soul searching is better than back biting[/SIZE]

thanks dear

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*"Learn alll the Rules so that u know how to Break them ...

*if Your Words are not SUCH Powerful as Your Silence Then "Shut-up" !

Waooooooooo..

Very very nice and informative...

Thanks for sharing with us...

Aye Aazaadi ki Devi ! Ham in Basteon ki gehraiyon say tujhay PikaaR rahay hain..Hamai sun..! .. iss Tareeki kay har goshay say, hamaray haath teri taraf Uth rahay hain… Unhain Daikh…! Barf kay in Toudon par ham Teray samnay Sar-Basjoud hain.. Ham par Rehem Kar..!.. Teray pur-Azmat Darbar main, ham apnay Aba-o-ijdad ka Wo Libas phailaye Kharay hain, jo unkay Khoun main tar-batar hay…. Apnay Sha’or ko Un Qabron ki mitti say giranmBar kiye hoaye hay jin-main hamaray Buzurgon ki haddiyan Dafn hain… Who Talwarain liye kharay hain.. Jo unkay kalaijoun main paiwast hoyi then.. Wo Naizey Buland kiye hain, jinhon nay unkay seenay chak kiye thay… or who Zanjeray Lat’kaye hoaye hain… jinhon nay Unkay Paon ko Majroh kia tha…
Hamaray Laboun par bhi Wohhi Faryadain hayn.. Jinhon nay Unnkay Galay phar diye thay.. Hamari Zubanoun par bhi Wohi Nohay hain.. Jinhon nay unkay Kaid-Khanoun ki tareeki ko, OOR ziada Wehshat-Nak bana diya tha,… or Hamaray Diloun say bhi Wohi Duain nikal rahi hayn… jo UNkay dil ki dard AfreeNoun say nikalti thin…….
Aye Aazaadi ki Devi…!... Hamari Pukar par Kaan Dharr….. Or hamari iLtijaa ko Sharf-e-Koboliyyat ata Farma…..
Skolon our Madrisoun main tujhay na-murad jawani pukar rahi hay… Masjidoun or Kalesaon main “Faramoush Karda Kitab” teri taraf Jhukk rahi hay,.. Adaltoun or Majlisoun main mehmil Kanoun tujh say Fariyad kar raha hay..Rehem kar aye Azadi..!.. our hamain Nijat Dila… Hamaray tang-o-tareek Bazaroun main Tajir apni Zindagi farokht karta hay.. Takeh Usski Keemat.. “Maghribi Daku’on” kay Hawalay kar day.. Or Koye nahe jo ussay samjhaye… Hamaray tahaffuz Zada Khaitoun main, Kisan apnay Nakhun’on say Zamen khod’ta hay…. Or usmain apnay Dil kay Beej Bota hay… Usay apnay Ansu’on say Seench’ta hay …. Lekin Kantoun kay siwa usay.Kuch Nahee Milta…or Koye nahe jo Usay Batlayee….
Hamaray Chatiyal Maidanoun main Baddu Nangay Paon or Nangay badan Bhoka Piyasa Chalta hay Or koye nahe jo uspar Meherbani karay.. Apni Zuban ko Jumbish day.. Aye Azaadi Aa ! Or haain bata..!
iBtaDaye AafReeNash hi say Raat ki Tareekiyan hamari Roohon par musallat hain… Aakhir Sobho kab tak ho gee? Hamaaray Jism aik Kaid Khana say Nikal kar, Dosray Kaid Khanay takk Chalay jatay hayn…
Or Komain ham par Hansti hain… Hamaray Pass say Guzar Jaati hay….
Aakhir ham Komon ki Hansi kabb tak Bardaasht karain gay.????
Hamairi Gardanain aik Bhaari Joyay say Chout kar USS-say Bhari Joayey main Dabb jati hayn… or Duniya ki komain hamain Door say daikhkar ham par Keh-kahay Lagaati hayn… Aakhir ham kabb tak Koumon key Keh-kahoun par Sabr karain…?
Hamaray Pa’on aik Zanjeer say Nikal kar, Dosri Zanjeer main Phanss Jaatay hayn…
Na ZanJeeRain khatm hooti hain….. Na Ham Unhain Kaat Saktay hain…!
Aakhir kab tak ham is Tarah Jeetay rahhain ???
Aakhir ham Jaa kiss Taraf Rahay hain..???
Or Aakhir is Dushwar Guzar Russtay ka Khatma kabb ho ga..??
Fir’oun ki Girift say lay kar, Shaitan kay Dantoun takk…. Aakhirr ab ham kisskay hath ki taraf Barh rahay hayn??
HAAN..! Unhee kay itmeenaan-e-Kalb kay liyee… Durzi, Arab kay Khilaf Musallah hoa… Sheeya Sunni say Larnay par Kamar-Basta hoa… Kurdi, Baddu ko Zibah karnay par Aamaada hoa.. Musalman Esayee say mukabla karnay par Amada hoa..
Aakhir Maan key Seenay par Aik bhaye Dosray Bhaye say kab tak larta rahay ga.???
Aye Azadi ! Hamari Pukar par Kan Dharr,,. !...Or Sun..! Aye Zamen kay Bashindoun ki Maan.. Hamari taraf Rukh kar.. or Daikh,, ham tairay sotailay bachay nahee…
Ham main say kissi aik Fard ki Zuban main Kalam kar…! Keh Khushk Ghas Phons aik hi Chingari say Bharak Uth’tay hain… apnay Bazu’on ki Phar-pharahat say, ham main say kissi aik Mard ki Roh ko Baidar kar day.. kewnkeh Badal kay aik hi Tukray say Bijli Namodar hoti hay… or aik hi lamhay main Wadi ki Khalaon or Pahar ki Chotion ko Roshan kar daiti hay….
Apney Azm-o-Himmat say in SIYAH Badlon ko Chant.. Bijlii ki tarha gir… Manjaneek ki tarha in Shaahi Takhtoun kay Papun ko Munhadim kar day… jo Khoun or Ansu’on main Doobay hoaye Hadeon or Khopreon par Kayem hayn… or Jin par rishwat ki amdani ka sona charha hay…
Aye Azadi.. Rehem kar… YA Hamaray Diloun ko Takat ata farma keh ham Zinda reh sakain.. ya ham par hamaaray Dushmanoun ki Girift itni Shadeed kar day keh ham mar Jayen..
(Quoted from, "Zard Pattay")

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*"Learn alll the Rules so that u know how to Break them ...

*if Your Words are not SUCH Powerful as Your Silence Then "Shut-up" !

__________________
*"Learn alll the Rules so that u know how to Break them ...

*if Your Words are not SUCH Powerful as Your Silence Then "Shut-up" !

mmmm......superb contribution Eram ...weldone
Keep it up...
with regards,
Muskan

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My ALLAH it is enough for my respect that I m "Your" person & it is enough for my pride that "You" are my GOD."You" are exactly the way I desire.Thus please mould me the way "You" desire.