Morning Prayer

In a poor Istanbul neighborhood, 

at the ground floor of our house, 

my great-grandmother says: 

It is time for morning prayer.

If you pray, she says, pure as a child, 

from this corner of the room, 

an angel will appear.

I am five years old closing my eyes. 

Allahü Ekber.

Essallamü alleyküm ve rahmetullah. 

I am fifty opening my eyes.

In Boston, Massachusetts, 

in a not so poor neighborhood 

at the top floor of our house 

praying my morning prayer.

From that corner of the room, 

my great-grandmother appears.