A compassionate moment from the life of a man whom Destiny blessed with every kind of authority, yet he walked away from corridors of power

The Sultan was
On his way back
From a trip that
Several hours took

As the driver
Steered across the road
His heart was lost
In the books’ world

A booklover since
His days young
For moments of
Solitude he’d yearn

Days and nights
As a candle he burned
For those wounded
With pain he consoled

Destiny gave him
Powers of every kind
Yet as a saint was he
To all benevolent

He walked daily across
The corridors of dominion
Yet not for once he craved
Ever for a position

Books were truly
His dearest friends
He took them along
While on long distance

As the car passed
Swiftly into a wild route
An old lady and girl
Caught his sight

Men of God are large
In their heart and glance
For, ‘they see the world
With the light of His’

Even as they are lost
In the world of vision
They lose not the sight
Of those in pain

Love for all
Sits atop in their agenda
Rich and poor are
Guests in their veranda

The old lady wailed
For a helping hand
For the poor girl
Was expecting a child

They had been waiting
On the road for long
For a God-sent angel
To some relief bring

The Sultan stopped
And enquired
At once he resolved
At what’s required

He asked his driver
To reach them to the town
So that the little-life
Could be in relief born

And he would wait on the road
Until the car returned

But to leave his master
Alone in the wild
Fear over fear
In the driver’s heart piled

His master always spoke
In sound mild
But when disobeyed
The master fumed

The car speeded
Towards the hospital
And the Sultan waited
Alone in the land fatal

The king whom
Thousands thronged
Now stood lonely
On the wild roadside

He remained there
For much long
Until the driver
Finally returned

Destiny called him
The Blazing Sayyid:
Though an Indian
Arab was his blood

Sultan and Sufi
Were one in him
World of Books
Truly endeared him

He carved an era
Of peace and tolerance
Love was his melody
Of speech and silence

His calm,
But blazing smile
Eclipsed every
Violent call

Though to the Death
Did he answer
He remains alive
In our hearts’ chamber

Love is the greatest miracle
Of a true Sufi
Spreading His Love
Alone make them happy

Dec 31 2011. Chennai