Oh hear my tale, my noble thane
Let me amain your time detain
Help me unwind my tangled skein-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

He stood on Karbala the plain
The master of the martyr train
The knight of light, the bold Hussein-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

Since age of Abel and of Cain
The strife of Godly and profane
The war to whelm the devil's reign-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

The foeman feigns his deep disdain
He fears what Heaven might ordain
For falsehood's fortunes ever wane-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

Our noble hero fears no chain
No desert heat and cruel terrain
Of Heaven's foes he is the bane-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

Afore the host stood al-Hussein
The arrows falling round like rain
His loved ones died with bloody stain-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

So bitterly did Fate ordain
His noblest folk for to be slain
Those of the Cloak, let none disdain! -o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

With russet wine in ev'ry vein
Their banners lastly shall attain
The victory and right retain-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain

With righteousness from sin abstain
You stand on Karbala the plain
Each faithful heart may heaven gain-o
With the sword and the sand and the angels twain


Music: “Twa Corbies” arranged by Habib Dunne, Performed by Eric MacFadden.

Source: Gleams from the Rawdat
Al-Shuhada' (Garden of the Martyrs) of Husayn Vaiz Kashifi Prepared for English Recital by Abdal Hakim Murad.