Alahu Akbar

Oprah K Oyugi

Blessed is the warm glow

behind my head

Blessed is the hot soil

beneath my feet

Blessed is this breath today

that I dedicate to thee

Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar

Blessed is my husband at work

who toils for feed

Blessed is my son in school

who taking in knowledge for ye Allah

Blessed is my home, my food,

the place of sleep

Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar

Blessed is this little girl

who dances at my feet

Blessed is her youth, and

colour and soul that is free

Blessed is she, who'll one day

be fully veiled for thee

Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar Alahu Akbar

This poem is in response to Photograph Number 48 in National Geographic's '50 Greatest Photographs' written by Oprah as part of 'Poets Under Pressure', in which participants were given ten minutes to write about a photograph chosen by a member of the event audience.