Bicentenary Poems and Prose

Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha

Remembering 'Abdu'l-Baha1

“My name is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. My qualification is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. My reality is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. My praise is ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion… No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except ‘Abdu’l-Baha. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory.”2

This is the year of remembrance--
Ridvan 178 B.E.
to Ridvan 179 B.E3--
the year to commemorate
the centenary of his ascension
into the Abha Paradise.

We remember him
through is writings,
the prayers he revealed,
and the words
of those who met and talked to him
while he still lived
in the realm of matter.

He is still with us today
through his example
of service
to humanity
and to Baha'u'llah.

We remember him
when we pause in our lives
to ask: "What would 'Abdu'l-Baha
do in this situation?"

This is the year to remember
that he preferred
to be known as 'Abdu'l-Baha,
Servant of the Glory.

Poet's Note: ▼

This is poem #19 of the 100 poem to 'Abdu'l-Baha that I'm writing for the centenary of his ascension.

Footnotes
1  https://www.bahai.us/remembering-abdulbaha/
2  'Abdu'l-Baha quoted on https://www.bahai.us/collection/remembering-abdul-baha/.
3  April 20, 2021 to April 21, 2022.