ninety-nine names of God in a hat
choose what you need
throw the rest back
take the God without image
God without face
distort him to service
the cause you embrace
holy words in a book
iconic Koran
Mohammad the prophet
Allah’s ink in his pen
ninety-nine names of God in a hat
cut down your brother
plunge a knife through his back
murder and mayhem
in the name of Islam
God in the shadows
brutal men armed
executions made public
rape and murder compiled
when laying waste to creation
is not the Creator defiled
radical warriors
vying sects shifting cells
who is the infidel
where lies the hell
suicide bomber
in a Market café
cries out … Allah Akbar
Paradise blown
further away.
***
By NEAL BROSNAN: the myth of Paradise
Francois Mori/AP/SIPA