The Taste of this Eid

The taste of this Eid was bittersweet

On the one hand, the cloying sugar-burst of prepared dishes

jelabies and dudh siwayas and sheer khurma

hitting the back of the throat with the

ferocity of rain after a month of drought

the heavy satisfaction of being able to eat

all the greasy food in the world

without a thought

to doctor's orders, diets, and calories.

And on the other hand,

the sight of thin children walking hand in hand to the mosque

in patched clothes, carefully preserved shoes

handed down through six older brothers

small girls in lipstick and party dresses

with pyjamas on underneath and veils on their heads

to preserve their modesty.

The sight of the maimed and limbless begging for a handout

from those who were dressed to perfection in their

luxury cars, going from one party to the next

The sounds of the azaan, coming joyously from the masjid

when next door, Muslims are running scared

to borders that provide no hope of shelter.

The world is telling us we are damned

at the same time that we seek God's blessings for our good deeds.

The taste of this Eid was

bittersweet

and it made no difference that we had all tried to be

so good.