Tattered Winds

A poetic story about Omer bin Khattab and the event when he conquered Jerusalem.

 

In the death of the sand

A man carrying a bow arisis

His face tattered by the raging winds he storms ahead, to holy land

Jerusalum

 

As he places his foot upon the ground and bows towards the dome

To remember the lost souls

To remember the unanswered prayers

 

The strands of his shirt fall loosely into the sand

Forever sealing his legend into the earth

 

Staring at his rip

The man smiles

As he patches the wound

Allowing his mind and soul to not leak

 

As be walks away

A offer is made

For riches and spoils

Fit for a Caliph

 

The man only smiles

For greed and lust

Will only err him

As Satan has to God

 

Walking away into the wind

The man tatters his cloths

Owing his fortune to the One

 

 

Author's Note

Omer bin Khattab was the second Caliph in Islam. His greatness is well known in history. This poem is really about an event that happend when Omer bin Khattab visited Jerusalem when it was conquered. I added a bit of extra detail however the message is presented.

The original tale is that Omer went to Jerusalem after the conquest and was meet by a Christian Prist who helped him with his camel. When he arrived his shirt was torn and he asked someone to patch it up. Someone patched it and when Omer was about to leave on his camel the priest offered Omer to use a Turkish Horse (which at that time where regarded as luxury). Omer tried it but noticing the proud nature of a horse he said, "Let me off of this horse walks proud like Satan" and let with his camel instead. Thus the morale being simplicity is better then luxury.

Reviews

[Arsenic]

I liked this poem a lot. I rather enjoy history and while I was reading it I was no able to see the connection between the poem and Omer. I went back and re-read it and it made perfect sense. I liked the extra detail added. Somehow it helps the moral of the poem shine through brighter.

[Mike Carson]

Also not familiar with that tale...but that is what it is all about...isn't it? Well done!

[Windy]

First of all, very well written I thought. Secondly I appreciate your authors note as it helped me understand the poem much better. You did a good job of presenting the message even with the added detail. Well done. windy