Dining With Muslims

When one dines with Muslims,

It is the epitome of graciousness.

Greetings are effusive, sincere,

Food is plentiful, tasty.

Respect pervades the place.

After settling down,

One begins to grasp the importance of this event.

Two great worlds are meeting.

The people of desert tribes pitched their tent.

Spread out their mats, set their table.

We, people of sea and forest, are invited guests.

The desert people accepts us,

Curious about faith and our ways.

We, people of sea and forest, guests,

Are invited to enter the desert world.

Soon a minaret will appear above the dune.

Soon we will enter the library, and

Great desert learning will open our eyes.

--April 24, 2013