The Crazy Spots I've Prayed

*Zuhr di Big Cherry Farm*


All the earth is a place of prostration,
Every field and meadow, mountain, park, city, farm plantation.
Every roadside, seaside, hillside, walkway,
Any place clean and green can be a place to pray
When I think of every path, where I've ever trot,
I laugh at all the crazy spots I stopped to worship God.
Remember that long car ride?
Driving all night so far,
Under the summer moon we pulled off to the side,
Reclining in the front seat of the car.

Waking to a fajr bird sound,
And washing in the coin car wash we found.
With the water blaster making wudhu,
You sprayed me and I sprayed you.

We stood so drowsy in the dawn,
Behind the car wash dripping on the lawn.

All the earth is a place of prostration,
Every field and meadow, mountain, park, city, farm plantation.
Every roadside, seaside, hillside, walkway,
Any place clean and green can be a place to pray
When I think of every path, where I've ever trot,
I laugh at all the crazy spots I stopped to worship God.

Saturday shopping day, in a busy mall and bustling through the aisles,
Where everyone's getting in my way.
Each blank zombie we shop and face forty smiles.

Time comes for prayer attack,
Grab a pair of pants or a sweater from the rack.
Find a changing room and latch the door,
Set aside excuses and hit the floor.

As I go back to the mall,
It's easier then to make sense of it all.

All the earth is a place of prostration,
Every field and meadow, mountain, park, city, farm plantation.
Every roadside, seaside, hillside, walkway,
Any place clean and green can be a place to pray
When I think of every path, where I've ever trot,
I laugh at all the crazy spots I stopped to worship God.

And our socks froze to the blanket,
That we spread over the snow,
Your call to prayer bounced off the trees and across the icy meadow.
Crisp and clean cold air, our hearts were so aware,
Our bodies felt the frozen freedom what a very cool place for prayer!

All the earth is a place of prostration,
Every field and meadow, mountain, park, city, farm plantation.
Every roadside, seaside, hillside, walkway,
Any place clean and green can be a place to pray
When I think of every path, where I've ever trot,
I laugh at all the crazy spots I stopped to worship God.

There was a time next to the river;
There was a time in the school hall.
There was that stairwell in that building,
There was that forest in the fall.
The movie house corridor,
The airplane kitchen in the sky.
So many places I'm sure there'll be more
Pieces of earth to testify.

All the earth is a place of prostration,
Every field and meadow, mountain, park, city, farm plantation.
Every roadside, seaside, hillside, walkway,
Any place clean and green can be a place to pray
When I think of every path, where I've ever trot,
I laugh at all the crazy spots I stopped to worship God.
(Dawud Wharnsby Ali)