She does wudhu

Letting the holy water from Upstate

Flow through the faucet onto her skin

Washing away the cells of sins

With a godly hand

She hasn’t even recited verses yet.

Her hijab is starched

Crisp and white

Framing her somber face

If there were saints in Islam

Her face would decorate mosques

From Medina to Istanbul

She sees the face of God

Behind her closed eyelids

Her lips are fluttering

Up and down

From surah to surah

She moves herself effortlessly

From one position to the next

Hands to chest

Head to the floor

Without a thought

I’m bothered just by watching her

Do these things that I could never do

All the faith that I can muster up

Withers away as fast as it comes