Shahada Poem by Artchil Daug

A turtle is found moving
among the crags and boulders beside
the river that snaked through
the adjacent side of a local habitat

like an old man slowed down
by a gust of wind in the nearby desert

it remained focused on its soft steps
making sure the slippery algae cannot

turn his path upside down with
his back acting as an insurmountable fulcrum

towards the breaking of his house
in the awkwardness of such a position

for the turtle does have a destination
to be cradled in the constellations of space

that lights up as a map in the forest prepared
from the ashes of former divinities that lay

dead beneath the most supreme and merciful
that resound from the caverns of the hearts of men

the turtle listened to their oath of submission.