Chasing: a poem

I wrote the perfect poem in my sleep

And woke up sweating

Arms crossed over my chest: coffin position

I dreamt I prayed the perfect prayer

And when I opened my eyes, I forgot what I asked for

I remember I was reciting Quran in REM sleep

Until - 

Interrupted by the hip-hop song on my clock radio alarm

I come to, head boppin'...

boppin'boppin'boppin'boppin'boppin'

In between bli/nks I sometimes spy angels

Who vanish as soon as I squint

I swear their wings brush my shoulder

Making me turn around to confront thin air

I daydream of sitting with Jesus and Muhammad

Until they look over at me wondering how I found their cypher

Their greetings of “Peace be upon you”,  are the only thing they leave behind

As they shimmer into a wisp of smoke

Peace that                         air like a butterfly

                  dances in the 

That I cannot run fast     enough 

To catch

I want to see God so bad, 

I think that’s why I am nearsighted

So I close my eyes and hope to bump into Him in the dark

Maybe –

Just maybe, if I keep chasing shadows…

Somehow, I will find the things that cast them…