In the Spirit of the Gracious and Compassionate
Creator of the Heavens and the Earth
I.
Adam meant well
but Satan deceived him
an astronomer meant well
when he said
we are made
of star-stuff
unconsciously deceived
trying to inspire us
believing stars to be
a higher reality
a group of women
called computers
but actual astronomers
learned that stars
are made of dirt
the same dirt
of which Earth
and man are made
II.
this ball of dirt
circling its
flaming dirt star
billions of times
before
a small mass of dirt
feeling lost
asked
over and over and
over
which way is up
III.
in answer
the Muse came down
from on high
sent by the Master
to show the way
as a newborn
breathing rhythmically
in concert
with mother
we recite this
music Qur’an
coming to life
becoming Human
Lester A. Knibbs
20 Dhul-Hijjah 1441
August 8, 2020
Which Way Is Up? 