Mezquita
We wandered, aimless pilgrims,
Within - a cool respite.
Terracotta footsteps clattered,
Amid hushed whisper echoes.
Stripes of light on tile stripes-
You veered away to stop and lean,
Head thrown back and gazing.
Dust motes floated on sunshine -
Ashes of souls, you said,
Long gone but returning to bask
In this Moorish paradise.
I traced a stripe down your soft cheek,
Gathering the dust of your soul,
Gathering the dust of your soul,
Touched the pillar beside you -
Whispered a prayer of thanks.
We wandered, two pilgrim souls,
Out into the citrus scented sunshine.
Notes: My visit to Spain in the spring of 1999 was one of the most spiritually satisfying times of my life ... the melding of Christianity and Islam was evident in Cordoba and became almost mystical when I spent time in La Mezquita. I can still close my eyes and experience the feeling of being in that sacred place. This poem is shared with Peggy and the readers at Poetry Jam. Read what others have written to this week's challenge - Stripes.
What a wonderful experience... thanks for sharing! I especially like:
ReplyDeleteI traced a stripe down your soft cheek,
Gathering the dust of your soul,
yes, to this holy hush...
ReplyDeleteWhat an evocative poem! Even without the excellent photo I could see the scene! Thank you so much for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteLovely, I love moorish art, so rich. Dust moats floated on sunshine - sums up this woderful picture
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed 'dust motes floated on sunshine.' Also 'stripes of light on tile stripes.' Then the stripes down the cheeks. Really a beautiful poem!
ReplyDeleteoh very cool...i would love to go visit....also i am rather a pilgrim myself....citrus scented sunshine is a great touch as well...visual and olfactory...nice...
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you shared these memories in poetic form .........
ReplyDeleteThis is very beautiful...your poem evokes your special feeling in this place. "dustmotes floating in
ReplyDeletethe sunshine " somehow captures the spirituality for me. Loved it.
Lovely way of sharing these lovely memories with us :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful memories woven into a beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteI traced a stripe down your soft cheek,
ReplyDeleteGathering the dust of your soul,
Touched the pillar beside you -
That is lovely! If only we could blend all the religions and be at peace. I'm so tired of fighting about the right way to worship God.