I Pictured the Dreams - Rashid and Hamdan

This poem was written on the occasion of the graduation of Sheikh Mohammed's two eldest sons, Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan, from the Royal Military Academy, in Sandhurst, England.


Rashid and Hamdan, the dreams of a bright tomorrow,
And I pictured the dreams - Rashid and Hamdan.

One named after the one whose name is bounty,
The other named after Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.*

People of high rank, their name renowned,
Heroes in kindness, and in adversity also heroes.

Saw them, in my mind, whilst still in cradle,
As leaders of justice and loyalty.

And raised them as a lion his cubs,
Lanners, never prey for hunters.

Hour by hour, guided them to the goal,
A father advising his children, shaping men.

Rashid, I prepared for dark nights,
And pride, Hamdan, purpose and vision.

I congratulated, by them, Zayed, to whom they pledge allegiance,
And congratulated Maktoum, the people of Dubai, and brothers.

* Sheikh Mohammed's maternal grandfather, who was Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1912 - 1922.

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