for najibullah zazi
I. dawn, new york city
dawn in sky lines waiting
to break into letters, placed into woods, spoken into story
i bear witness that god has no country
come to the good—come to this prayer.
morning birds recite salat al-fajr.
inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
to god we belong; to god we shall return
your waking prayer is family to me. a face like
uncle vishnu, from my elbow to fingertip,
footpads brown pigment like clouds
into pink and skin daily slackening.
i love you, meri jaan, like muslim joints of lahore
meets hindu temples in jackson heights where we fold into one flesh.
i ride this body into speaking dream
and train car to the city.