Laylatul Qadr whispers in the masjid
Like the soft ripple of breath and vowel.
A language, my quivering fingers weave
Between the quilted cotton of my hijab.
A mellifluous dua, I etch in the blood
Of my veins like a carved promise.
A covenant, I sow in my heart’s flesh
Which blossoms between the fractures of angst.
Two words, I embrace like home
Between swollen lips and teeth.
Sabr. Patience. Hifazat. Protection.
Sabr. Patience. Hifazat. Protection.
Two words, my henna-stained fingers
Trace on the saffron-hued carpet
Yet suddenly amongst these dulcet syllables
I hear the bitter beads of rainfall cascade
Seeking to drench this gift of hope
A relentless reminder of humanity’s ignorance
How the indifferent drown the voice of justice
With the bitter call of malice
And plant the ubiquitous germ of indifference
Corrupting the fertile lands of democracy
As the white man’s fist stifles my voice
With apathy in the name of justice
And exudes the sour odor of his privilege
Spilling his venom as if this heart can’t feel pain
Muffling my voice with his sallow knuckles
Because he fears my right to speech
But shall I remain silent?
But shall I remain compliant?
When my faith is stitched on my chest
As an emblem of my dignity
Or when a prayer of hope blossoms from my palms
Like a rose both battered and beautiful
And when sabr and hifazat roll across my molars
Like an anthem of justice awaiting to be sung
When Laylatul Qadr whispers in my ear
A message of hope, a message of power.
Defined Terms
- Laylatul Qadr- One of the holiest nights in the Islamic calendar on which Angel Jibril revealed the Quran to Prophet Muhammad. The night is observed by Muslims through prayer, repentance, and reading the Quran.
- Masjid- place of worship for Muslims
- Hijab- religious head covering
- Dua- Arabic word meaning “prayer” or “act of supplication”
- Sabr- Arabic word meaning “patience”
- Hifazat- Urdu word meaning “protection”
Rimel Kamran is a current junior and the Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate. Her poetry aims to build community, celebrate diversity, and share her Pakistani-American identity. She hopes to share her love for poetry, especially with youth, and encourage them to seek the unheard poem within them. When she’s not writing she enjoys pursuing her interests in science and medicine.