I Pray

As I sip my fragrant tea
Stealing the last drops clean and pure
The alabaster innards of the orbed globe
Sparkling and whitely pure
Reminds me…

…Of the dargah at noon in wintry summer.
Where the sprawling marbled divine
Orchestrated poetry with devout rosy droplets.

….Of the holy breeze
Sifting through the white,
And through the shrine.

The forgiving breeze
Wet with tears,
And the current light with prayers.

The shop of blessings,
Where all got sold,
To glory.

The domed divine,
Where all left their shoes and sins
Behind.
At the doorstep.

All left all behind.
With the world to boast.
World alone to weep at the doorstep.

This piece was my piece of heaven.
The white field
Compassed to light.

The white forgiving field
Playing host to corrupted footsteps
Urging them...

Their salvation to be their soveneir home.


The sufi’s sang
In entranced shadows
Nodding to the sunless rays
Lighting up
Much more
than
What you ever thought of darkness.

Birds in restless appeal
Beckoned
The golden azaan
to Calm humanity

Devouts at the bank
Of the marble ocean
In aqua prayer.

Cleansing to be cleansed.

“I bow thy head before thee lord
Heart and head
In namaaz”

And I
In unconquered innocence
Positioned in pose
In my playful prayer
My play pray
The pricest!

Best prayer of my life.

Lest I knew
The divine ray
Saturating me
Prayers answered
Without the poise

I was happy
And so was HE!

Today
A few shoe size older
I pray in uncopied posture
I pray in confidence
I pray to Allah

And somewhere
The same bird sings

“Allah
Give me what I never asked
My pearl
Still breathing within the shell
Unopened to humanity
In innocent mist “

As I once again
Retrace my steps
Upon the sprawling white
Retracing my black leaden feet
To the calming shores
Of arrogance
Breathing in
innocent humility.




(written one evening in divine reverie of the Dargah at Ajmer)