The Prophet Danced on Oriental parade

Despite the crowd, the pavement and all
with some nimble leaps
and pirouettes,
the Prophet’s bare feet
connected
with something more subtle
than concrete

Each time he felt
the earth mould to his step
he saw
            how the universe pierces everything
            that the concrete is merely dust

He shook the tiredness
from his dreads
he shook the bells woven
into his clothes
he danced along the seawall
above the gulls and the wheeling commuters

and for a moment, as he passed,
butterflies ruffled the fastidious sky