let us give thanks this eid
for the thirst
of the first gulp of water that expanded like mercy in our ribs
the morsels of dates that coated our teeth with tenderness
the wedges of citrus that refreshed our senses
let us give thanks this eid
to the generous chickpea in all its guises
let us give thanks this eid
for the hunger
that cleansed us of the weight of sodium and sugar
the fried snacks whose sight repulsed us and our minds devoured
the spiciest foods that traced acidic burps after sahoor
let us give thanks this eid
to the erasing of raw aches of the body
the nightly chase of ellipsis to essence
the testing of boundaries of nerves and compassion
let us give thanks this eid
to the land of plenty where some perpetually fast
the mourners of the dead, those shot but not in the nation’s memory
the bounty of mothers torn from wailing children,
we too create the disappeared
let us give thanks this eid
the pathological haters conserving a gold-plated past with treason
the craving, intolerant heart
the ever-blind, the ever-deaf, the ever-dumb
to this soil slaking blood, the trails of tears, the jingles of coins and chains,
the camps in the desert, the burning crosses, children in cages
let us give thanks this eid and remember
Image Credits: mdornseif
