Surat Maryam: Opening Prayers
never have i been
in my supplication to You
O Lord
unfulfilled, unmet, unanswered
never
unwitnessed, unseen or unheard
these whispers to You
my silent complaints
and less than perfect
requests:
God, what does it mean
for me to inherit
from ancestors i know
and ones i don’t?
knowing that we
were prayed for
as Yahya was
that we now walk
protected
along the myriad paths
that cross our parents’ palms
hands cupped open to the heavens
as Zakariya’s were
how many times
was i really willing
to let God surprise me
to let go and
let You hold me in ways
i didn’t know
i could be held
comforted in ways
i didn’t know i needed
to be comforted
Ya Rabbi, i ask You to gift me
just a portion of
Zechariah’s intimacy
with You
i ask You for a dreamscape
a heartscape
a prayerscape
so beyond the limits
of everything and everyone
that wishes to hold
this soul besides You
why not pray into the past?
i ask that there
is-was-will be
peace in our abodes
the day we were born
the day we return
and the day we are
given life anew
the promises of God are Great
but this trust, this will and this strength
are mine
Ya Allah,
i ask You to gift me a portion of
Zakariya’s intimacy
with You
i ask You to surprise me
with the portion You gift me
You who said,
O John,
take the Scripture with determination
take your inheritance
stand in your station
O my loving, nurturing Rab
Your tarbiya
is the only possible consequence
i ask You to please gift me the
words of praise
i will need to thank You too
Ameen.
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Rooted in the rainy Pacific Northwest, Efemeral is a multilingual verse and spoken word artist who entwines reflections on faith, language and the human psyche. Her writing is featured in the anthology, A Kaleidoscope of Stories, published by Lote Tree Press. She’s also published in The Puritan and MZAB magazines. Her Arabic poetry is published in the public art piece “Weaving Cultural Identities: Threads Through Time” curated by Vancouver Biennale. With(in) her communities, Efemeral enjoys facilitating poetry workshops and collaborating with fellow creatives. You can find her at poetefemeral.com.
Makeda | April 7, 2023
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MashAllah that was beautiful. I loved it and felt it dearly. May Allah reward and increase you.
AKN | April 8, 2023
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Masha’Allah, duaa as poetry!