The Food Court
Religion, like dining is varied all set out for display
Each can fill a void, if you look at them that way
The nourishment is real, and soul food is the name
But at the finish line, all are so basically the same.
You can choose Greek, savor Spanakopita, spinach pie
Italian with baked Zitti and Zuppa Toscana to try
Chinese, delicious and light, bamboo shoots with Feiwang fish
Arabic barbecued lamb right off the spit, such a tempting dish.
There is freedom of choice and each one picks his own
Some have tried many food stands feeling hungry, alone
On this side everyone likes The Colonel’s recipe it seems
At the other table, all agree it’s white rice and black beans.
The problems arise when the promotion gets frenzied
When one assures the other, only his food should be envied
Food fights have broken out, bottles thrown and lines drawn
So much wasted, so many starving saw their appetites gone.
Then Enter the mystics, they come to eat on most days
They all climb the stairs to a higher floor, holding their trays
Might be Sufis , Kabbalists, or the Cloistered Carmelitas
Rumi, Nachmanides, San Juan de la Cruz with Santa Teresa
They are friendly and loving as each call out their name
But there is only One food stand so they all choose the same
And there is only One table so they all sit together
They eat upstairs in harmony, no differences whatsoever.
Karima Hoisan
Jordan 2007
*Footnote..Tonight at sunset The Jewish holiday of Passover Begins.. It is Good Friday today for most Christians, and we Muslims are in our 2nd week of Ramadan fasting. To have all three Abrahamic religions align, each celebrating a very important moment for their respective religions..is rare. Ramadan only joins Passover and Easter
about every 33 years. A Blessed coincidence!!
This is a nice way to look at the presence of various religions. There are so many ways to look at the world, but the general aim for most of them is to help people and be kind to the world.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback. So glad you enjoyed the metaphor:)
You’re very welcome, and I sure did.
i love the poem!🥰 & thanks for the heads up on the alignment of the 3 abrahamic religions❤️🌹
Lovely, and so very appropriate!
Thank you Dale…so glad you think so❤️
thank you🙏🏼
Awww thank you so much swadharma… and yes the three all together this weekend is a nice harmonizing sign I think:)🙏❤️
being a fan of synchronicities, it rates as a wonderful pointer toward positive energies at the very least!❤️🦋🌺
This is a wonderful poem, Karima, that explains it all so well! Have a blessed day, my friend!
Thank you so much Dawn… you too have a blessed day and weekend too. Happy Easter🌹
Brava!
Hugs!! Thank you dear friend🦋🌹🙏
I love the rich imagery and the interesting opening line that pulls me straight into the narrative!
So glad it pulled you in Jaya….like a special 2 X 1 at the Food Court:)) thank you so much for your comment and your feedback 🙏🌹
what wonderful poetry pulling me in rich with color and comfort Karima!
💖💖
Ohhh thank you so much Cindy, I am so glad you could relate to my poem…big hugs and a very happy Easter to you🌹 btw..my video on You Brought The Music has been out for awhile…you can see it on YouTube here:) https://youtu.be/IHJAlAztWto I do hope you will take a look ❤️
I adore this write. It speaks to me of the unnecessary and violent ways in which people draw lines on a map, and then use these socially constructed ideas to wage war, and reek devastation and havoc. This write also speaks to me of the fact that none of this need be true, as when we remember who we truly are, we are already all aligned with each other through love, compassion, and kindness. I love this write. Many blessings to you during this most Holy time, dear Karima. 🙏❤️🌹🌿🤗
Ahhh Jeff, my special reviewer..my deep feeling poetic friend…I love what you have written here… Oh yes..how easily humanity can see what divides us instead of what joins us…but those who have been blessed, see it differently.. They feel the oneness, they know the oneness, perhaps have experienced it in their own minds , in their souls.. in their lives and this always helps to see the Big picture…all inclusive, and joining, not dividing us no matter how we believe…we are one…Love, compassion and kindness…are our super powers:):) Thank you for your beautiful review🤗 Happy Blessed time to you…🌹🦋🌝
Aww, I’m so glad this is so, dear Karima. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you’ve written here. Love, compassion, and kindness are indeed our super powers. I love thinking about them that way. You’re most welcome, my dear friend. Thank you for the blessings, and many blessings to you. 🌹🌿🌼✨
This is such a beautiful & deep poem…”The nourishment is real, and soul food is the name”….I love this line…this says a lot about your poem…everything is already in place if we look deeper…there’s no difference among people…we all are already connected to the highest source…no matter how we look & which religion we follow…including those, who don’t follow any…the freedom of choice…”soul food is the name”…all eat upstairs in harmony & there’s only one table to sit…brilliant piece, my dear friend 👏✨❤️💫
Thank you so much Navin for your beautiful thoughts on my poem…Yes this is how I see it and I have always been tolerant of other beliefs.. I think in the end, one is called to what is right for them..what nourishes them and fills them..Each of us have different paths and who has the right to judge and say..Only this path is true..it might not be for everyone.. Thank you for you sharing your thoughts…In the few months I know you, mostly through your poetry, I see these super powers in your way of thinking too…Your kindness, tolerance, passion and willing to give of yourself…your complete honesty..I would be honored to sit at the same table with you..Very honored Navin…Thank you for your meaningful and sincere comment 🙏❤️🌹
You’re welcome, dear Karima…beautifully described…kind you are…the feeling is mutual…knowing you mostly through your poetry was no coincidence…you’re a kind hearted beautiful soul with super power of your own…the honour would be mine, sitting next to you ✨❤️💫
Some great thoughts here, especially to remind us that we should not be narrow-minded and see our own beliefs as the ‘one and only’. I am one of those ‘heretics’ who believes that a personal relationship with whatever is the important part for me and that the idea of needing a third person as an intermediary simply does not sit easily. However, if I judge (and we all do, even when we protest we do not) then that depends on actions such as how people show love and compassion, how they show they care about others.
Thank you David, for your thoughtful comment….I think in this Food Court…there is something for everyone… and yes, love, tolerance and compassion are they keys to harmony on the 2nd floor…:)
hmn… that’s true! because Muslims don’t have leap years! Never thought about that…
Hope you enjoyed the poem too David:)
So much ❣️
❤️David❤️
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This poem began with tiny steps and then took a leap! Absolutely fantastic, Karima! What an allegory!
Thank you Harshi…you are so observant!! Yes..this poem was written to gradually get to the point…So glad you enjoyed what it wanted to say:) I am a firm believer that religion should not divide us..instead our humanity should unite us:) InsAllah🙏 Loved your observant comment!! ❤️🌹🦋
This is such a beautiful piece and brilliant way to express it, the food court. What an imagination you have Karima. I must admit I am hungry right now and you starting with these wonderful dishes made me hungry. I love all kinds of foods. What a lovely way to express how petty truly people can be. It is extremely sad to think about it and yet it is true. Also we are all free to worship what we believe in and our faith should be respected by others. I loved your description of those going to a higher floor where they ate in harmony. Truly beautiful. Also I did not know,” Ramadan only joins Passover and Easter about every 33 years. A Blessed coincidence!!” Thank you for sharing this very interesting perspective in such a creative way. Blessings to you my dear friend. Sending you much love, peace, happiness and joy. Love you my friend, Joni
Hello again, dear friend:) I think I might have been hungry too when I started off writing this:) Perfect word you used, Joni, our human pettiness that always separates and divides…Religion should be a personal choice….people at the food court, can suggest but never force you… Not everyone likes the same thing…not everyonr is called in the same way..and some..are just not called at all…It’s all OK..It really is. I am happy to serve as a pointer to that interesting fact..of how we all aligned for a day on Easter Friday… I found it so interesting.. so eccumenical.. Big hugs…your support is amazing and I always cherish your beautiful comments.. Much love and blessings for you dearest Joni…❤️🤗🌹🦋
It was a truly beautiful piece and so cleverly written. You got an important part message out for those that read. Thank you again to serve as a pointer. Sending love and hugs dear Karima. ❤️🤗🦋😘
Much love to you sweet Joni❤️
exactly my sentiments … we all have different propensities but are headed in the same direction!
I was super impressed with your poem reading on the anthology launch that I have to read some more, kudos 🙂
Hi Kate, thank you so much for reaching out to me through your comment about Food Court:) I am glad you enjoyed the sentiment of the poem..I truly believe it’s this way.Yesterday was an amazing experience for me in so many ways, and I enjoyed hearing the diversity and the stories behind the poems. I will be reading more of yours too very soon… I have to catch up first a bit and reply. Thank you so much for your kind words and also for introducing yourself..This is a wonderful community of poets we have here.:)🤗
it is indeed and I’m so glad I’ve been able to track a few of those who really touched me 🙂
Keep up the great work Karima
Thank you so much Kate…my pleasure to get to know you 🌹