Blind Faith

By Az Karim

light from a single lamp

muted; shadows

where meaning dwell

the monsoon rain

it cools the night

from heaven; the stars

shine bright

with secrets that refuse to hide

from he that sails

in search of sight

his eyes; they do not see

the pleasures of this world;

a memory

from left to right

and back again

the pendulum; it swings

within one’s soul

a war is waged

two forces pull

until one day

the spirit finds

a home called ‘faith’

all movement; stop

who would’ve thought

with just one word

the blind can lead the not

Az Karim was trained in architecture but pursued journalism as a career and had once helmed the now defunct English daily The Brunei Times. The writer-poet is now based in Malaysia and is working on her first novel.