Pascal Borg Poet Suzette Prime

The Whirling Dervishes

My Turkish Sufi friend, proud of his faith, invited me to the sacred ritual of the Whirling Dervishes.  The musicians wore long black cloaks and high felt hats, representing the grave and the tombstone.
The Dervishes enter, discarding their black cloaks, accompanied by a reed pipe, they start to turn.

As I watched the dancers circle continuously
in costume of white robes and conical hat
arms outstretched towards heaven
whirling round like planets orbiting the sun
becoming closer to God and inner truth
connected by physical meditation
I wondered
if God will hear my prayers
when I only kneel to pray

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Alison A Smith October 8, 2026 at 10:10 PM The poem moves gracefully from flowing description to the quiet simplicity of the closing question. The planetary imagery conveys the dancers’ devotion beautifully, while the contrast between whirling and kneeling gives the ending a touching, personal vulnerability.