Yo Soy Muslim: A Father’s Letter to His Daughter

There are questions we all ask when we are learning what it means to be human.

 

Who invented my hands?

Why wasn’t I born with wings?

and

does the moon ever get lonely?

 

There are questions this world will ask.

What are you?

and

Where are you from?

 

And there will come a day when some people in the world

will not smile at you.

 

On that day

tell them this:

Yo soy Muslim.

I am from Allah

angels, and a place

almost as old as time.

 

I speak Spanish, Arabic, and dreams.

 

Mi mama creates life.

Mi abuelo worked the fields.

My ancestors did amazing things

and so will I.

[…]

Say it with me:

Yo Soy Muslim.

Our prayers were here

before any borders here

[…]

By those who dance with the wind,

Smile at the sun,

laugh in the rain,

and pray.