Hospitality Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Hospitality

Five are we in total
They are Kurd
Two from Turkey and
Two from Syria.

It is cold
We escape under roof
For lunch time.

Farhad is the richest
Then Erkan
But today nothing is with Amin
I shame to take along sandwich
And Apu? !

Pulp papers spread
They make a good carpet
And the two squat
Legs crossed underneath
They invite and insist…

We don't go
They don't eat…
Sit idle and freeze.

"We can't eat…"
They tell me, explain:
"Not joining is insult…"
And go on with details:
"You mean we don't deserve
Company and your house…"

I am lost, mesmerised
Think of how different
The West-East cultures are
Eating in small cups
Sitting like facing wall
Alone as if horse, bag…
And culture of sharing…
The way of Middle East
Some say: "of Mohammad…"