Tribute to a Friend

A few years ago, something wonderful happened as I was crossing the junction of Bugis Street on my way to perform my Asr prayers. A German guy asked for directions to Sultan Mosque. What happened thereafter was bizarre: not only did he go to Sultan Mosque, but also Malabar Mosque, we had dinner, we attended a religious talk by one of the Shaykh in Singapore - all within the same evening!

He returned to Germany eversince, but we kept in contact. He sent me a poem today by his favourite poet, Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff, (inserted picture) as follows:

Moon Night

It was as though the sky

had silently kissed the earth,

so that it now had to dream of sky

in shimmers of flowers.

The air went through the fields,

the corn-ears leaned heavy down

the woods swished softly—

so clear with stars was the night

And my soul stretched

its wings out wide,

flew through the silent lands

as though it were flying home.

I thought it wonderful and decided to return him an extract from a play by the same poet. It is particularly relevant to him as he has travelled almost all the world, and still is:

From the Life of a Good-For-Nothing

When God will show a man true favour,
He sends him into distant lands,
Where wood and mountain, field and river
All show the wonder of His hands.

No rousing flush of morning glows
On sluggards who remain in bed;
Their thoughts are filled with cares and woes,
With little mouths and little bread.

The runnels from the mounts fall springing,
Up high the darting larks rejoice;
Now what’s there to stop me from singing
Full-throated airs with heartfelt voice?

I leave dear God to rule and reign;
Who brooks and larks and wood and lea
And Earth and Heaven can maintain,
I’ll say he knows what’s best for me!