Seated cross-legged on the floor,
Leaning on the wall,
Is a figure resembling a Buddhist monk.
The man wears an old clean t-shirt
And is wrapped in his kikoi.
A clean shaven head, reflecting sunlight,
Small grey beard and the wrinkled forehead
Tells you this man has seen many moons,
Fasted the Ramadhans, feasted Idd-ul-fitrs.
History says, his ancestors came to trade
In East Africa, sailing from Arabia in dhows
During the season of dry monsoon winds
“Allah-U-Akbar !”, the Imam’s voice cracks
The Humid afternoon air, the loudspeaker breathes –
I start to see Kanzus moving towards the sound
Those brimless hats sitting on their heads.
He too is not left behind,
He wears his sparkling white 'Kanzu'
And joins the procession – coming from all sides
Headed towards the mosque for the afternoon prayers.
After minutes of recited 'duas', they come out
Fit in their shoes left at the mosque’s doorstep
Few words exchange here and there, smiles and laughter
As they part till they converge again at the same place –
The old man feels rejuvenated in spirit
As he returns to sit cross-legged, perhaps wait –
This time to be served 'biriani' by his wife
And this is how he spends the sunset days of his life.
Maalim
Started by fikrah, Aug 12 2010 01:22 PM
5 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 12 August 2010 - 01:22 PM
#2
Posted 12 August 2010 - 08:52 PM
Nice stuff, me love it...you should drop a part II
#3
Posted 20 August 2010 - 08:58 AM
comin soon...thanx a lot!!!
#4
Posted 30 August 2010 - 08:01 AM
Too nice, beautifully written and paints a perfect picture thats if you undestand the arabic terms though. I love it..
#5
Posted 31 August 2010 - 07:43 AM
thanx franz... this person (the old man) who inspired me to write this is a neighbor where i live.
#6
Posted 01 September 2010 - 08:45 AM
I know where this came from...n' its raw!
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