"BEFORE THE GREATEST FELL"
(A dirge for late Colonel Mohammed Abu-Ali)



Yesterday the soil was beneath you my brother

Today, it blankets your skin

But I am grateful that you were ready

Mohammed Abu-Ali

The name alone

Sounds just like the greatest boxer

A junior military officer

Somersaulted into a colonel

Right in the heat of the war

Young.

Brave.

Strong.

Fearless like a lion.



Back at home

Was a loving wife and

An army of beautiful children

Awaiting a return that never happened

"And if someone must die, let it be me"

Were his words

That cold evening

Before he sojourned to meet his maker

An ultimate sacrifice paid

So we could sleep at night

Here is my promise Colonel,

I will immortalize you in my memoirs

And when I have kids,

I will tell them about your conquest in Baga

How you rammed fearlessly into their enclaves

And bombarded them without flinching!



But on this day,

Even as my heart bleeds,

I won't cry that you died protecting us

I would rather smile Ali,

I would smile my colonel

That I was alive

When a great man like you lived!

Adieu.

R.I.P

Sad story

So touching!! Rip sir