In Medina

Late one summer's afternoon

I fell asleep in Medina

in the mosque of the beloved

and as I slept, I dreamt 

I dreamt a terrible dream

that shook me to the core

It was so dark, it bore

a crater within.

I woke up in a cold sweat 

I didn't know where I was 

the prayer space was empty 

and I felt empty inside. 

I couldn't understand
the reason why  

I had been abandoned

and left there. Then a beam 

of gold light 

streamed in

I screamed in 

silence, to this day

I haven't shaken away 

that strange feeling

of abandonment.