Our good friend, the poet Daniel Abdal-Hayy Moore, is a frequent contributor to the Paris Play dialogues that accompany each post. I've known him since we lived in Berkeley in the late sixties, and am sorry to hear news of his health worries. At the time of this post, Daniel just entered the hospital for the first of three chemo and 35 radiation therapy sessions. The prognosis is good, and his family and friends are hopeful.
This post, which contains his recent poem, is a prayer for Daniel, a thank-you for his contributions, and request for our friends all over the world to offer up prayers to him, whatever your religion, or lack of same. Atheists, agnostics, pagans, all can play.
THE LIONS' ARENA
The lions' arena
is full of medical equipment
The roar of the lions is the
great radiation ring whirring
The crowd leaning forward with
thumbs at the ready
wears chemotherapy gowns
It’s a hot day
and a restless hum is in the air
The masks of everyone’s faces
are beginning to slip
As we enter naked and
shackled the
crowd is hushed
The outcome is anyone’s guess
and God’s to toss into the
arena’s dust we’ve
been since birth
waiting for this moment’s
test
There’s no signal to start
all is already closing in
A star glimmers overhead
for each of us
wanting the best
Our hearts have already
entered paradise
and come to
rest
_____________________
5/28/12 (from Down at the Deep End, in progress)
Photo (c) 2012 Malika Moore