"God’s true language: Hebrew. Latin. Arabic. Sanskrit.
As if utterance fit into the requirements of the human mouth.
I learned how to find the new moon by looking for the circular absence of stars.
When Abraham took Isaac up into the thicket his son did not know where he was being led.
When his father bound him and took up the knife he was shocked.
And said, “Father, where is the ram?”
Though from Abraham’s perspective he was asked by God to sacrifice his son and proved his love by taking up the knife.
Thinking to himself perhaps, Oh Ismail, Ismail, do I cut or do I burn.
I learned God’s true language is only silence and breath."
As if utterance fit into the requirements of the human mouth.
I learned how to find the new moon by looking for the circular absence of stars.
When Abraham took Isaac up into the thicket his son did not know where he was being led.
When his father bound him and took up the knife he was shocked.
And said, “Father, where is the ram?”
Though from Abraham’s perspective he was asked by God to sacrifice his son and proved his love by taking up the knife.
Thinking to himself perhaps, Oh Ismail, Ismail, do I cut or do I burn.
I learned God’s true language is only silence and breath."
— Kazim Ali, “Home,” Bright felon: autobiography and cities (2009), p. 86-90. (via countedsorrowscountedjoys)
(via nounsandbooks)
