The Ark

It was certainly
a very dark day to leave
it all behind: the illusions
of trees, country and a son,
as the youth was swallowed
by the hungry waves
full of devils and soul assassins.
No Calypso or friend,
not even a father to save the day
from the notorious tragedies
of the sea, the lesser
known depths where the eyes
of fish gradually disappear.


Now, this is what Islam gets you. An appreciation of the light spectrum as the sea descends into the places of glow in the dark fish!

It is commented on in the Quran, as is Noah or Nuh(pbuh), as we call him. But this isn't about that at all, not entirely anyways! It is about a few other things. It is about the loss of people who you once loved or once loved you. Then God says NOPE. Not this one and it could be your very own son that betrays the Word of Allah. How unimportant in the scheme of things...unless like me, you are a worried parent.

Or, a poet who lost every single important poet relationship they had because, they chose Allah first, poetry second and publication: in paradise and not, on earth as is the norm in poetry.

But yes, the Quran tells it like it is and is very scientific in nature even when it comes to things like parables about flies and birds. What is the parable of the fly? Who can interpret the parable of the gnat?

The fly for one, is a parable about the powerlessness of human beings when a fly comes and absconds with what they are eating, say, a PB&J sandwich or maybe a nice steak or hunk of watermelon. Or perhaps, it is their own life that is suddenly taken away without prior approval, notice or sanction.

No reprieve from death it seems and so, the Quran says:

Cover you bases and your foodstuffs. If a fly falls in your soup, no need to throw it away either! That is, per hadith, one should first dip the fly into the substance and then throw it away, continue eating as if nothing even happened.

Well, that is because flies secrete a substance on their abdomens that destroys the bacteria that they carry all over their bodies. So, you just vaccinate your pea soup.

And then, yell at the waiter so the manager can give you a freebie.

Works for me anyway.

The poem though was written prior to my departure for real aboard the USS Trent with the famous kickboxing champ of the world, Nelson LeBron. I wish I'd asked for an autograph, certain that he'd not be interested in mine. How it is.

And no, my husband wasn't with me. We were on our own in a world of pain because we were being evacuated by a known war criminal and enemy. You cannot imagine the distress of that nor can you realize, I felt as if I was a seed being planted in a place far away and against my will or better judgement.

And now, we wait for the seed to grow. Just like my mom used to say when she taught me how to plant string beans. I had no idea she was teaching me Theology. None whatsoever.

She kept a small plot for me to plant on and taught me how to dig the little trench, which way to put the bean-seed in and the importance of watering it to make it germinate (note that tilling reference in the Quran and the Soilologists confirmation of that important matter). Then, with a very serious face she'd tell me about the prayer she would offer for the seed. She'd look up to the Creator which she knew to exist and say: Now I've done my job Lord. It is time for you to do yours.

Amen.