Ode to the Young at Heart

By Imam Zaid Shakir



The young at heart enter this world to dream and wonder why.



They walk a path that sees them cross God’s bridges to the sky.


With smiles and tears they overcome the trials along the way.



With hopes and dreams they build a world of future’s brighter day.


Their hearts ignite the flames of love that burn away the dross in hearts of those obsessed with pain and burdened down with loss,


Of those who fail to find the paths that lead from worldly stress,



Of those who fail to find the ways in which we’ve all been bless’d.


So young at heart will be the ones who shine a brighter light, that clarifies the sullied truth and dignifies the fight.


To guide the lost, to help the poor, to shelter those too weak; through efforts great, through sacrifice to gain the good they seek.