The Way, the Warrior, and the Dust
Reflections on a fallen warrior inspired by Lao Tzu and verses of the Qur'an
The Way, the Warrior, and the Dust
by Munawar Ali Karim
A lone figure sits on a sofa chair. It’s plush pillows covered in dirt but still soft to the touch. There is dust scattered abroad everywhere. Like the life of this world that the sufis describe as “habaa un manthura.” Particles of debris made visible by a shining brightness cast from a bombed out window. The figure sitting on that chair is bathed in this window light. His right hand clasps the soft padding of the arm rests. His face veiled in a warrior’s cloak from the gaze of mechanical eyes. In his left hand he wields a stick—like the staff of Moses himself. In his pocket a packet of mints and prayer beads. This figure sits, solitary, as if God is already calling him from the Mount. Perhaps he sees a fire there Beckoning at long last to him. To ascension and homecoming. A lone figure sits on a sofa chair. It’s plush pillows covered in dirt but still soft to the touch. There is dust scattered abroad everywhere. Mizrahi described his life as the life of a true Warrior. It’s true that he had what Lao Tzu called “The Way.” As he raised his left hand and threw up the staff It became a dragon that swallowed up all the snakes. And the spell was broken for us all at last. The Magicians fell down prostrate. Only Pharaoh grew in arrogance And declared he would kill us all. But there was nothing left “habaa un manthura.” Dust scattered abroad.
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A fitting tribute to a warrior
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