How I pray

This is how I pray

[after Sodiq Oyekanmi & Yahuza AbdulKadir]

each day the sky gown quintuples,

i begin everything with an incantation:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

& bear witness that He is holy.

tent my hands behind my shoulders

& brazen it to the qibla—

a cipher to God’s alcove.

how do i do that? i damp my skin

& wear another colour of faith

like chameleon—we call it rebirth.

i mutter again, Allahu Akbar.

& nestling my hands on patella—

we call it gratitude. afterward,

i prostrate on seven bones.

speak to God when my forehead

& nose kiss the ground.

that is an easy way to tap grace.

i end everything here with ellipsis;

Peace be upon you…

the lines in my fingers are God’s name,

reincarnate into abacus counting

His grace & benisons.

grace does not stop there.

my hands relish something magical.

i hold this scripture & the bracket

of my mouth unclosed. my tongue

tails a verse “and has turned to you

in forgiveness, so recite what is easy

[for you] of the Qur’an.”

that is another way to tap grace.