Castles of Worship

Castles of Worship
Raisa Farhin

O son of Adam,
how long will you remain chained
between the needles of dusk and dawn?

You’re caught in a trance,
quenching your thirst with a mirage.
Will you never awaken?

When the hourglass is empty,
will you lie wrapped in muslin,
buried in sin?

O son of Adam,
why remain the devotee of a temple
in your name?

What is the purpose of worship
that is driven by the hatred
of your own being?

You fawn after a siren’s echo,
carving hollows you refuse to face.

If only you released your fear of the sea,
if only you swept away the shards,
if only you pulverized the pedestal you’ve built,
would you find the sweetness
of turning within.