Brooklyn

An ode to the underdog

Rami Mahmoud Elsawah

A tribute to Brooklyn
Which brought tears down my face
When as I walked down the street,
The call to prayer did resonate

As I parked my car off Bedford
Checkin the locks twice so I don’t get robbed
And as I headed over to Masjid Taqwa
A resonance hit my ears and made my heart throb

ALLAHU AKBAR!
Bounced off the building wall
And I could not imagine what was going on
Was this the country I had lived in for so long?

ALLAAAAAAAHU AKBAR!
The sound pounding through the air
Was like a sweet intoxicant
Taking away my despair.

The testimony was being recited
I didn’t believe what I was hearing
Was I transported toanother country?
Perhaps I am just dreaming?

I could not hold back the tears
My emotions were running high
Not exactly a great thing to do
In the middle of Bed-Stuy.

I tried to gain my composure
And walk to that place I heard the call
In the borough of Yemeni Café and Darussalaam
Was the first I heard in public the beautiful Adhaan.