Moses describing the 4 virtues
resulting from faith

 

Moses said, "the first of these four,
Health bless your life forever more
All fever, all sickness, all ill
Be apart, be afar, and be still.
Next, longevity bless your existence
Angel of Death keep his distance
May your life not be plane, unfulfilled
By an untimely demise then be killed.
Like a newborn mother’s milk, death may you seek
Not trapped by hardships driving you weak
May you seek death, yet never desperate with pain
But see the treasures that in ruins remain.
With your own hands you’ll pick up the axe
Your house no more safe from your attacks.
You’ll see the house as the treasure’s veil
In a single grain you’ll lose the harvest’s trail
You’ll throw this lone grain in fire
Embrace the call of your soul’s desire.
You, from the orchard, a lone leaf remain
Separated from the vine, caterpillar’s bane.
When grace bestowed upon this lowly worm
This creature, dragon of ignorance storm,
Transmuted to a worm full of leaves and trees
Thus eternal joy unleash and release.

Ó Shahriar Shahriari
Vancouver, Canada
August 8, 1998