i.

the lapping
           sound
     of her shrilling
as fishermen shuck oysters for silver

pried from bone and not womb
not Buddhist pearl but child;
               fell
from river water.

shuddered the longest night
moon's fragrance       breathless;
               utpala unborn,

the song of starlings
               deaf
in starlight -
among one lone
                           whine

and mother's mantra rebirthed
from sea to ice to earth
to
                           sweeping years

ii.
my call to prayer;

             to observe dawn
                       as the sun summits
                    as I love you;
               to observe dusk
        as light plunge leery

salah, salah, SALAH "salah towards Kaaba!"
                   but only you concluding the qibla.

these Arabian nights long and drawn
I wandered lost and deep in dune
as his back retreat to skyline
his lone pilgrim to Mecca    

         so sun-dust seeks my tongue and eyes
         and I tried
         I tried

                                          mother, lover
                                          heaven's not here.