looking down on the earth

what can be seen

blue and green

lights at night

clouds swirling

 

the sun in the distance

does not move

rather

the earth spins

one half bathed in light

 

right now

the sun is about to rise

on baghdad

while new york city

has settled in for the night

 

so let me pray

to the One who knows all this and more

that this new day brings good

to every human soul

in iraq

 

39,203,499

that is how many souls are estimated

to be in iraq right now

 

i only know a few of their names

and those whose names i know

i barely know the faintest outline

of their life story

 

most of all

i wanted to move there

but my intention could not pierce

the wall of the Decree

 

but i am thinking right now

of certain faces

who i may have known

if i had been given the chance

and i am wishing them well

 

these are the times

when i realize my dependence on my Lord

because i do not have billions of dollars

to spend on your wellbeing

i do not have the power

to make you safe

i do not even have the opportunity to move there

and get to know you

and learn from you

but i can pray for you

 

i can pray to the One who knows

each and every one of your names

and the joys and tragedies of your stories

and the shape of your fingertips

and everything your eyes have seen

 

the One who can teach me everything i need to know

and protect me from every harm i have ever feared

and grant me every longing i have ever felt

and more

 

i can pray to the One that made all of this possible

and caused the sun to rise upon you

and the darkness to cover me

to give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter

and to save us from the punishment of the Fire

 

for even though i feel in exile

from my heart

the truth is that i am a servant

and there is no real loss

when one serves the Master of the tigris and the euphrates