Tea and Thee

Today I am nto having tea. The way I love it. English breakfast tea with cream and sugar, with toast lavished with butter and marmalade. I am not having tea today. Your tea is different. I sneak, I stand over you as make it. I see that each step is important and that to you, making tea is an art. It is meditation. The tea itself is beauty. I stand on tiptoe and open the container and the scent of it wafts up into my nostrils, tickling them, unexpected, making me dream. The smell of Cardomon shakes me up. I was not prepared for it. I see you shyly smile as I regain composure.

You boil the water, fresh water. It seems so. The air escapes the kettle hissing like a spoiled woman that you aren't attending to quickly enough. "Come, come on you silly man" The kettle hisses. I hate it for a moment, that it gets your attention, and touch. You grab it and pour it and as you pour your sweet breath comes softly from between your lips and sends part of the steam away.

The liquid is infused. It develops before my eyes like a photograph. Deep amber, deep smart, hard and hot amber the room is incensed with you. Your tea you call it, from your country. I hide behind my hands angry, peeved. You tell me stories of tea, of Samovars and nights of Hafiz and Sufi saints. Rumi and tea. I am jealous I refuse your offer of a sip.

You smile at me. Your black eyes full of humor. You know I will come to you, in a moment. In awhile. I can't resist your gentle way with tea, and words. I do snuggle against you and smell the tea on your breath as you talk about the Caspian sea. I fall asleep as you recite poems into my ear. The amber tea is reflecting the sun as I slip off. My anger assuaged. You arm under my head. Soon you are snoring too.

This poem is for all tea lovers. Lovers of poetry and long nights of stories.
This poem is for good health and a strong heart.

Enjoy

WHATS NEW WITH MNA?

Al hamdulilah, it's been a very busy time this year. So much change and growth. It's envigorating and its exhausting. The MNA is growing, but at a slow pace. I am thankful that its

a bit slower now because it makes it a bit more manageable.

We won't be sponsoring the Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donor Program this year. Pity, we did such a good job last year at the MCA Muslim Unity Day. They tell me that the cost was too high. Well, perhaps we can sponsor the Red Cross this year. There is always some good deed waiting to happen.

Please remember to make a donation to the Islamic Scholarship Fund. It's a truly good way to make a difference in the life of a Muslim scholar who works with the community. Contact

650-995-6782.

There was a report today that there was a demise related to the Swine Flu in New York. We send condolences to the family and we pray that Allah will protect us all. It seems that Mexico City was a brisk outbreak that petered out quite quickly, but there are still reports of Swine Flu all over the world and US so we are not out of the Class 5 ranking from the WHO. You can do alot of education for family, friends, and colleagues by going to the WHO website and downloading the information there and printing it and sharing it. We never want to panic and over react, but we do always want to stress preparedness.

Chicago is reeling from the numbers of school children murdered this year. Their Police and Public Health Department need all the help they can get right now figuring out what spurred this increase and how they should respond. Take a moment and consider that there are children in this country living in deplorable conditions at home, and attend schools where there is no safety and very little education. Lets support the people of Chicago getting a fix on whatever is causing this problem. No doubt prayer will also help.

Thanks for Listening!