L'aura del Campo

Martyrdom of The B�b. "O wayward generation"

O wayward generation

"The day will come when you will have recognised Me ...

A rope, a nail, a pillar
where two bodies hung.
The stain of blood
I still remember
from that Summer day.

The smoke, the sound, the fury
where they disappeared
and reappeared,
strung up again.
This time the bullets slayed.

No sash, no breath, no turban,
only mangled flesh.
A dark whirlwind
and the Artist's touch:
the face untouched.

... that day I shall have ceased to be with you.”

© Kåre Enga [164.133] 07-07-09

The italicized quote is from The Báb.

THOUGHTS:

Today is the Bahá'í Holy Day that commemorates the martyrdom of The Báb.

It is observed at noon on July 9th around the world.

A link to the entire story:

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/nz/DB/db-42.html

IMAGES:

From the accounts of July 9th, 1850, Tabriz (out of order):

Dark clouds and a vortex of wind.
The disappearance.
The untouched face.
The young man who wish to die with The Báb (and did).
Sám Khán: A volley of bullets and smoke from 750 rifles; they 'missed'.
Khamsíh: The second volley that did the deed.
Darkness from noon until night.
Noon on a July day in North-West, Iran.
A face of joy.
His sash and turban (green?)
A rope, a nail, a pillar.
Two bodies mangled as one.
A portrait commisioned by the Russian counsel after the execution.

There is many a poem in here somewhere. So around noon I decided to write a poetic sketch from these images and the following quote as "O wayward generation". It is now 12:52 pm

QUOTE:

“Had you believed in Me, O wayward generation,” were the last words of the Báb to the gazing multitude as the regiment was preparing to fire the final volley, “every one of you would have followed the example of this youth, who stood in rank above most of you, and willingly would have sacrificed himself in My path. The day will come when you will have recognised Me; that day I shall have ceased to be with you.”

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