Poems

Ramadan

What is Ramadan? It is the month when Muslims fast
From Sunrise to Sunset, expressing solidarity with
The poor and the deprived! It is an act of faith as well as
A manifestation of willpower. It is a voluntary act of
Austerity requiring strength of character and self-control:
Especially when you feel tempted to give up, while
Dreaming of a cool glass of water to quench your thirst,
Or a warm bowl of soup to comfort your empty stomach!
Fasting unites people, rich and poor, it puts you in other
People’s shoes, it makes you share their helplessness, and
Their plight! Eating after Sunset helps you experience
Their relief whenever they are offered the sustenance of
A meal. During Ramadan, the consenting
As well as the restraining force is YOU!
It is entirely a personal decision, an act of
Determination, of resolve, of sharing, of understanding, of
Willful deprivation, an act of submission to the Creator!

© Djehane Hassouna, 2006

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