POETRY:  Preparation For Salat *

Mustafa Paul Bergner

Posted Feb 23, 2007      •Permalink      • Printer-Friendly Version
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PREPARATION FOR SALAT

by Mustafa Paul Bergner

When oceans covered the planet
and jellyfish ruled the world,
all life near the surface floated helpless
in a jungle of deadly tentacles.

Then lands rose.
Rains fell.
Rivers began to flow.

Where currents met the sea,
clearings spread in the jellyfish swarm.
Those whose yearning could move them moved
against the river
into the circle of safety.

Those whose will or ability failed
fell back among the jellyfish.
Those with intense desire, sustained,
developed a cartilage spine.
Lovers of leaping developed a backbone.

Fear of death had driven them into the mouth of the river;
backbone allowed them to master rapids and falls;
love of their children, of life,
guided them high up mountain streams,
to spawn and die in peace, satisfied,
500 miles of rapids and
500 million years away
from the jellyfish sting.

All this so humans could have a spine
to stand when they pray;
to kneel;
to bow.

Originally published in the print edition of

The American Muslim

, Winter, 1994

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