In The Spirit of Maryam

By Ambata Kazi-Nance

I want to do

as the mountains do.

As the oceans and lakes,

rivers,

rocks and clouds do.

I want to move

as Allah tells me to move.

I want these words:

no

can’t do

not now

maybe later

will try

extracted from my vocabulary.

I want to do

as the angels do.

Obey

as the angels obey.

I want to hear

the words of Allah

in my soul.

I want them

to move me.

I want to be

like the things Allah has created.

The things that are not free.

The things that were wise

to refuse free will.

I want to bow

bend

shake

crumble.

I want to glide

sway

tremble

break.

I want to serve

without question

without doubt.

I want to Be,

and it is.

Ambata Kazi-Nance is a writer and teacher from New Orleans, LA. Her work has appeared in Azizah Magazine, Free to Breastfeed: Voices from Black Mothers, Grow Mama Grow, and Love Inshallah. Her short story Rahma was featured in Mixed Company, a collection of short fiction and visual art by women of color in New Orleans in 2015. She is currently an MFA student at the University of New Orleans.