friday prayers
at suleymaniye masjid
wedged between
wedged between
a turkish giant
and a west african queen
nails done, scarlet
gold rings adorning fingers
a fine and glamorous abaya
gleaming
perfect made up face
beaming
noor spreads
the khutbah is in turkish
lost in translation
i try to translate
the
unhearing
deeply caring
beautiful uzbek mother
sign to her
young boy
jummah at suleymaniye
the men gather outside
wearing thawbs and smiles
kids squat on stairs by the tents
eating fresh kebabs and chicken
cooked by elders on the streets
cooked by elders on the streets
smoke spreads
kanafe and cake,
families rejoice
friends relate
jummah at sulimaniye
haggerston lyf
