My ear drums can contain
But only the ringing of defeat,
muffled by the waves crashing on my two feet.
Distracted by the wails from the sirens of modernity,
the cries of vices, unfamiliar places
pounding on the empty shells of serenity.
The hails of the prayers kill the requiem of dawn
placidity now, a rare thorn
In haste of the chase, I forgot the Qibla of my heart
In the haze of the maze, I let the Mihrab crumble apart
Monumental stillness, Raging calmness
Empty , blasphemy.
Lost, heed the caution
losing my religion, food for the ocean
drowning in fire, freezing as they burn
Helter-skelter, prayer in order
I have to run for cover,
under shelter
between the surahs of my Quran
before the professions of your kalimah
within the inflections of our adhān
But the sirens invaded my head, creeping closer to the shores of my heart.
Ravenous, smearing stains all over my Shahada , pouring sand into this cut
Morning leaks from within the cracked blur
hung up in perplexed thoughts, unfamiliar.
nightfalls made way for storm’s a comin’
meandered from my veins to the ashtray’s ring
A streak of reliefs to summer’s solace
If we could be together on lovers’ space.
Little one with grave for days,
élan is ours if we start today.
Thoughts elope on a forsaken highway
dusky hallucinations lead the way
Faint lights , faint hearts
Be still , but still
leaping and racing , burning trails.
If we meet a desert along the way,
with black sands as curtain coasts
for a lone black rose that matters most,
keep close, stay close.
Lines drawn on sand , you cannot stray.
Two souths don’t converge, we’ve sinned our ways.
Pluck the rose, quit the chase.
Spill your confessions, keep the change.
How do I break it gently to
your quivering allegiance?
So the world doesn’t hold a vigil
So arias don’t hail a requiem
mihrab won’t shake to unjust blasphemy
pebblestones won’t break hold from tight fit;
Maybe if we vow to keep astray
only then can dark clouds part ways
queer lights dust the pesky pathways
casting white shadows on our numbered days
Hints of summer on my silent winter;
frivolous thoughts on a dark sequester
wallow in the mire, too tired
burn us in fire, too wasted
My lips are sealed, silence to keep
another forty seasons won’t hurt that deep
Hush your reasons, my heart’s asleep
my knees can only climb a hill this steep
Questions you asked,
I have answers to
just not to you
just not for you
