The Emerald Mosque on the Hill
Tonight is the first night of Ramadan. Some of the customs, such as gathering to pray or to break the fast together, may be difficult to carry out this year. But the customs of meditation and reflection will stay intact. I love this poem by Pakistani American poet Raza Ali Hasan. In it, he evokes a sacred space where anybody could take refuge.
The Emerald Mosque on the Hill
by Raza Ali Hasan
In the lull, the afternoon sun warms
the linseed field. The flowers are quiet,
their bright subdued in the green
while the mind wanders
to the emerald mosque upon the hill,
built around a flowing spring,
the easy absolutions and ablutions
in that mosque where the spring water
has been let loose to meander
over marble courtyards and inner chambers,
across the geometric, green-tiled floor that
cools the heels of the faithful.
