Today,
I awoke,
Awed,
Overawed,

By a mottled world
In blustery, rustling splendour,
Verve and vivacity swirled
In a kaleidoscope of vivid colour

I marvelled
At the lucidity,
Synthesis and harmony,
Of subtle hues and deep shades,
His versatile love and embrace
Inspiring varied tones and tints
To cohere and sync,
In illustrious, layered hymns
Of divine praise!

I considered,
How gracious was His brush and paint,
Tarring none with black disdain,
How seamless His every stroke,
Mercy and beauty bespoke,
Upon a canvas of universal love!

All around me,
I saw
Dynamic brilliance
Enhanced by nuance and difference
God’s light split into rainbow rays,
Myriads of divine shades!

And then I looked within
To the world I dwelt in…
I saw sharp, rigid, lines,
Separating black and white,
I saw hierarchy and hate,
Abuse of power and state,
The darkness of bigotry
Blotting out love and beauty!

And I wondered,
As war rages and hate stains,
When will hearts with faith,
Unitedly and actively emanate
The divine love and grace
They claim to embrace??

Fatema Valji | @fatemavaljipoetry
From Who am I? A Collection of Reflective Poems
Published by Sun Behind the Cloud Publications