The world is a dark place
Let the twilight remind you
Step into the cave
And recite like a slave
Leave the darkness behind you
Poetry
The Seventh of Ramadan
What a joy it will be
When I make it to that place
And I stand before a tree
Such a lofty piece of grace
And I learn that it is mine
All its shade and all its fruit
Then I wonder what I did
That begot this thing with root
So I ponder and I think
Even as I take a taste
And the ecstasy I’m in
Puts all word and thought to waste
Then I’m told my tree sprang forth
From the lips of my Nabi
A SubhanAllah uttered
One he uttered meant for me
What a sadaqah, it’s as
His companions let on
That his generosity was
Even more in Ramadan
What a joy it will be
When I make it to that place
And I stand before that tree
What a joy it will be
The Sixth of Ramadan
The sidewalk kissed the toddler’s lip
He gets himself up from the ground
One part of raḥmah all around
The place
There’s ninety-nine more stowed away
We’ll see it on another day
A day when we will get to see
The Face
The Fifth of Ramadan
The pitcher’s half empty
My thirst isn’t quenched
Raḥmah waters
Wash out my toxins
I’ll just keep drinking
And hope I can drown
The sounds of my thinking
The Fourth of Ramadan
They loved the Final Messenger
He loved them even more
When they obeyed
Or when they strayed
Returning by remorse delayed
Like driftwood sanctuary
Just lying on the shore
The Third of Ramadan
Like lumber, sawn, then
Joined and sanded
Soft unto the edge of metal
Let my heart return commanded
To that place where all things settle
With Your Will and Mercy, Lord.
The Second of Ramadan
The sermon was solemn
And heavy with care
Of two things distracting
Us standing in columns:
Arrogance, stinginess.
Hearts in repair
Turn soft as the moon
Waxes into its share.
The First of Ramadan
You know my heart
Tattered and torn
Mend me, My Lord
I’m only worn
From all of me
Dying to live
Oh Greatest forgiver
You love to forgive
So forgive me
Thirsty
Look at the water
Look at it fall
Follow its onward
journey and all
Watch how it tumbles
Faithfully on
Washing and quenching
Going, then gone
Never turns back, yet
Ever returns
Gives till it reaches
The ocean it earns
Look at the water
Look at it flow
Follow the sign to
Where you must go
Fresh as the morning
Sweet as a dream
If you are thirsty
Become the stream
On My Attempt to Open a Bottle of Chocolate Milk
This came about while watching my son as we waited at the airport a couple days ago.
My life is like this chocolate milk delight
So complicated just to open up
The seal won’t break: the cap is screwed on tight
I wish they served it in a paper cup
I ask my dad to help but he says no
So here I am determined and committed
To part this bottle from its cap and so
I carefully examine how it’s fitted
I slide a nail into where seal may give
It does and I repeat this little move
Till seal descends into a plastic cliff
My digits work a counterclockwise groove
Till cap comes loose at last – now gentle sips
That eulogize this cocoa off my lips