There is a prayer-house  right in front of my home
At night, when the streets are filled with bustling crowds
At night, when the sky is showering in darkness,
A tall tower sits on top of the prayer-house,
Glistening,
Green,
Sparkling,
Red.
At night, the tall tower sits proud.

The family of four hungry people
A crying baby in his mother's arms
Sits cowering in front of the house of God.
The family screams, at the people who kneel before God.
For food.
I stand in front of them like a ghost.
Cowering.

The tower glistens,
Sparkles,
Dazzles,
They scream.
The tower glistens
And
God listens,
to the people kneeling inside the prayer-house.

I wonder where God sits in that tower.
I wonder whose cries are louder.
I wonder what makes him cry.

There's a prayer-house right in front of my house.
A tall tower sits on top of the prayer house,
Proud,
Glistening,
Green,
Sparkling,
Red.

Jannatul Naeem Tasmiah is a student of English Literature at Jahangirnagar University.