Pure Religion

Allah dances like a drunken fool

to the music of the tambur and oud.

He staggers, he laughs, he sways, he falls.

Last week Allah fell into my mind

and I saw visions of the faithful and the damned.

It frightened and inspired me

   and I became more disciplined in my practice.

A couple of days later Allah fell into my limbs

and I felt the strength of tigers.

I put it to good use digging a new well for old Dede.

Then, Allah fell into my throat and I sang like a sparrow

until my wife threatened to split my head with some crockery

if I didn’t stop my infernal warbling.

Later Allah fell into my loins

but propriety prohibits me from telling you what happened then.

Let us only say that my wife was pleased,

   and did not threaten me with crockery.

Yesterday, Allah fell into the sky

and it lit up like fire.

It moved my soul to wonder.

This morning, Allah has fallen into my coffee

and the pleasure I experience as I hold it on my tongue

is pure religion.