The Ruba?i of a Soldier

The Ruba?i of a Soldier is an imagined manuscript of quatrains written by an anonymous warrior in the army of Saladin during the Crusades. Inspired by the spirit of Omar Khayyam's Ruba?iyat, these verses blend dust and blood with longing and faith, giving voice to those forgotten by history. Between sword and star, the soldier reflects on mortality, on the prayers whispered before dawn, on the laughter of his children left behind, and on the futility of empires that rise and fall in rivers of blood. His words are short, sharp, and contemplative—verses shaped not in the luxury of courts, but in the silence of tents where every dawn could be the last. The collection is divided into four parts: Blood and Dust: meditations on war, death, and the indifference of the desert. Songs of Faith: prayers, trust in Allah, and hope for paradise amidst chaos. The Longing Heart: nostalgia for home, family, love, and the life left behind. The Sword and the Star: reflections on the meaning of glory, the weight of conscience, and the eternity of truth. These ruba?i are accompanied by evocative black-and-white illustrations, drawn in the style of ancient manuscripts, as well as a full-color cover that captures the haunting beauty of this poetic journey. Though set in the twelfth century, the verses echo into the present. In Gaza, in Ukraine, in every place where war silences the innocent, the soldier's questions remain painfully alive: Why do we fight? What is victory worth? What survives of us when glory fades? The Ruba?i of a Soldier is not history—it is a parable. Not prophecy—it is remembrance. It reminds us that empires collapse, banners burn, but the human heart endures. And sometimes, all it leaves behind are four short lines—enough to shelter the soul. For readers of Omar Khayyam, Khalil Gibran, Rumi, and those drawn to poetry that bridges history, philosophy, and spirituality, this collection is a meditation on faith, love, loss, and the eternal search for meaning.