RAMADAN KAREEM FROM THE UNITED STATES

by H.G.

Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., prompted calls for his resignation from Democrats and a major Islamic civil rights group after suggesting in a social media post that he'd choose dogs over Muslims. —NBC, February 17, 2026

3-4 million Muslims in the United States
begin Ramadan
On February 18th and 19th
while Randy Fine declares,

"If they force us to choose,
the choice between dogs and Muslims
is not a difficult one."

Fasting
Reflecting
Praying
Volunteering
Donating

"If they force us to choose,
the choice between dogs and Muslims
is not a difficult one."

Heads to the floor
in extra Taraweeh prayers
seeking forgiveness, answered prayers
and fostering community.

"If they force us to choose,
the choice between dogs and Muslims
is not a difficult one."

Embracing the hunger
the thirst
the fast—
the great equalizer of humankind.
Feeling the pangs of those who go without
understanding the gratitude
of this feeling being temporary
for the fortunate.

"If they force us to choose,
the choice between dogs and Muslims
is not a difficult one."

Salaam my neighbor,
peace be upon you.

 

 

 

H.G. is an American poet based in New York. She holds an MA in history and is working on her first verse novel. Her previous poetry has appeared in Blue Minaret.

I HEAR PEOPLE ARE MEMORIZING POEMS AND PRAYERS AGAIN

by Janice Lloyd

Janice Lloyd is a former editor and writer at USA TODAY. She has taken poetry seminars with Danusha Lameris, Richard Blanco, and Major Jackson and is working on her first chap book. 

BLOSSOMS

by Bonnie Naradzay

In Gaza City, Riad Ishkontana mourned the death of one of his children on Sunday. Mr. Ishkontana said that when rescuers pulled him and his 7-year-old daughter from the rubble of his home after an airstrike, he awoke to a new life—one without his wife and four other children. Credit:Hosam Salem for The New York Times, May 19, 2021

I am feeling numb, reading about stun guns

rubber tipped bullets and tear gas cannisters

that I pay for with my taxes, and the Boeing 

weapons sales, mainly kits transforming bombs 

into precision missiles dropped from planes 

on Gaza, as before. Armed forces wreck Minarets 

during Ramadan. The call to prayer, up in flames.

Worshippers at the mosque are felled with bullets.

Evictions are enforced by the Courts, the way 

it’s always done. Snipers target fleeing children;

they’ve done it all before.  When will we learn?

Here, orange blossoms are exploding in the sun.

I am feeling numb, reading about stun guns.

 

Bonnie Naradzay’s recent poems are in AGNI, the American Journal of Poetry, New Letters (Pushcart nomination), RHINO, Tar River Poetry, EPOCH, Tampa Review, Kenyon Review Online, Potomac Review, Xavier Review, and others. For many years she has led poetry workshops at a day shelter for the homeless and at a retirement center, both in Washington, DC. 

THE CHILDREN MAKE THEIR PRAYER RUGS

by Tricia Knoll

Make new the angel’s carpet.

—Nezami Ganjavi, twelfth-century Iranian poet

Their lesson aimed more at special space
than Islam. Rough sketches to begin –
where an arrow might point to more than home
or maybe home: an old oak with withered ways,
a swing or jungle gym, grandfather’s path
toward twilight. For Marcus the soccer field,
boot to ball. One drew lines of fields of maize.
Another lupine. Lines they erased of bullets
flying, having learned the word trajectory,
painted over with the flame-gold of stars.

Then to measure fabric cut for a lay-down,
a tribute to their sizes. Refuge trimmed to fit.
Help with sewing on a fun of fringe.
Though they could not spell reverence,
a girl with braids cut and pasted spaniel eyes.
The boy who lisped drew his mother’s cello.
Lilacs appeared here and there as the blue vase
in the classroom broadcast May.
Timothy made a map of where his bicycle
could and could not go.

The template suggested a centered door,
open to what lies inside.
Lily drew her heart caught in a rib cage.
Aneshia, the stone library at story time.
John, his father gone to war.
Alejandro, his mother on the other side.

Low, slow background tunes of flutes
and piano. Soft the teacher made the mood
for work, then lowered shades for rest
in a world which all knew well
floated no magic carpets.

Author’s Note: Recently I heard a Unitarian Universalist spiritual education teacher say that kids in her classes were going to make their own prayer rugs in celebration of Ramadan. That sparked my imagination: what would it be like to make your own prayer rug in the days of so many school shootings and the separation of young children from their parents due to immigration injustices. 

Tricia Knoll is a Vermont poet. Her most recent collection is How I Learned To Be White—poetry that explores the roots of white privilege in education, ancestry, childhood and culture. 

UNSEASONABLE CLIMATE CHANGE

Poem by Charles Frederickson

Graphic by Saknarin Chinayote

Imploding lonesome planet soiled earthlings

Perverse intolerant misunderstandings amongst Christians

Jews Muslims Buddhists Hindus Sikhs

Praying to whatever god listens

12 days of Christmas solemn

Ramadan 28 Kwanzaa lasting 7

Hanukkah Menorah aglow 8 eventides

Overstuffed feasts celebratory tummy aches

Kwanzaa Swahili meaning harvest bounty

7 guiding Nguzo Saba principles

Umoja (unity) Ujima (responsibility) Imani

(faith) Kuumba (creativity) unmitigated joy

Hanukkah from Hebrew connoting dedication

Honors victorious revolt entering Jerusalem

Holy temple sanctified eternal flame

Oil lamp kindling black light

Ramadan most intensely worshipful time

Profoundly serious compassion giving charity

More about dependence than abstinence

Fasting from sunrise to sunset

O Tannenbaum emerald forest blighted

How lovely were your branches

Hoping faith recycled comfort bring

Resilient strength throughout New Year

 No Holds Bard Dr. Charles Frederickson and Mr. Saknarin Chinayote proudly present YouTube mini-movies @ YouTube – CharlesThai1 .