Incense

Don’t judge me for
the way I light
my incense

Do I escort it into every corner
do I encourage its zazen on the shelf
allow it to bless my clothes
or my plates
or my afternoon tea

Do I say my prayers in English or Sanskrit
or in silence

Do I bow to the directions
or twirl
or kneel and kiss the ground

So I dance with the smoke
with bells
with drums
with thunder

Are you going to judge me
for the way I light my incense
declare I’m doing it all wrong

or will you match my frequency
tune in
and harmonize