THE ROADS OF BAHRAIN

As the night thickens at its core

And everyone is asleep

The roads of Bahrain come alive 

Sharing secrets that they keep.

The old roads greet the new ones

Freshly tarmacked and cleaned

Reclaimed of the sea of pearls

Every bit with honour gleaned.

The new roads drip of memories

Of the sea that they have lost 

The land born of the seabed

That around them have been tossed.

Hand in hand forever they are

Joining little pieces of land

Old Muharraq meets Hidd at bay

Where proud Juffair stands.

The squalid bylanes of Manama

Are hesitant to speak

To the vibrant ones of Adliya

Who from them advices seek.

'What will become of us

When the new flyover is born? 

Will we perish under the weight of time

 That looks at us with scorn?’

The old Souq lanes sigh in grief

Forgotten they are now

But once they were the most revered 

To them the land would bow.

As the stars look down on the Island

And the roads wail of the sea

The silence of the night is pierced

By a zipping car or three.

Many a vehicle come and go

Many a trodden feet

Some return home safe and sound

Some taste sad defeat.

Yet the roads stretch out with a mighty oath

Together they will hold

A land of dreams and promises 

A future to unfold.

As dawn breaks out in the horizon 

The roads all quiten down

Heavy wheels to bear on their bosoms 

No complaints, not a frown.

And with time Bahrain progresses 

Old roads embrace the new 

They miss those commuters

Who have long kissed them adieu. 

So night on night the roads they see

The changing hands of time

The country grows, the sea recedes 

'Progress' sings the chime.



MY BAHRAIN

It was love, Bahrain, that brought me to you

As I flew a thousand miles to be here

To build a nest and make a home

And live my dreams without any fear.

It was love Bahrain, that gave me strength

To embrace you with all my heart

To go through happiness and even pain

And rebuild life right from the start.

It was love Bahrain that made me lose

My faith in life on rainy days

But it was you Bahrain who picked me up 

And held me close in the crowded maze.

It was love Bahrain for the life I left

That my life with you seemed lonely too

But you took time and brought me friends

And made a home for me in you.

Dear Bahrain, you showed me life

In a host of shades I would have never known

In you today I live in peace

In your lap my son has grown

Bahrain, today, I can proudly say

That in all these years, I have found in you

A loving home away from home

Oh Queen of Pearls, I love you true.