off pedestal

selectively, blindly

the iqra followers

neither read, hear nor see

words writ large

on clouds, in shadows cast

regurgitating

like meadow cows

from a less polluted time

heart-beats on papyrus

soothing, straight

from the heart-mind

braving and surviving 

shamal and chubasco

embers of discontent and  

empathy laced love

nerve twitching wisdom

whirl with the silent beat

resonating with silence

rustling over rolling dunes

word worshipers seek more

a pursuit with no end

what do whirling dervishes know?

but they know, they know!

for merrily they go round 

                      and round

                                swirling to

word-music reverberating

in their halo

succumbing to the magic

                     of word-ecstasy

[overheard at the next table

friends? what friends?

can you share a grave

with a friend?

                 a  thought

love them, loved them

ensconce them, ensconced them

value them, valued them

worship them, worshiped them!]

amidst all this worshipping

words crumble off the pedestal

and end like tsunami whipped bodies

first published Oct 09, 2010