Walima (Wedding Dinner) Poem by Muhammad Shanazar

A ceremony where hidden absurdities,
Underneath the rustling dresses, coated skin,
Painted lips, combed hair and shaved faces,
Come up shamelessly to jump at the opportunity.

A competition of filling the big containers,
With sweet spicy warm dainty dishes,
Of chicken, beef, mutton, rice with salad.

How gluttonous participants stuff the bellies,
The leg in mouth wing in hand, chest in plate,
Avaricious eyes stare around to have more!
And how frantically like horses they eat,
When they are let loose in the lush green corn,
They eat less and spoiling pillage more,
As if the doomsday will cease the world tomorrow.

Ah! The simpletons move with empty plates.
With huge yellow greasy spots in front,
The uninvited seem happier than the invited,
Trace out they far fetched thread of propinquity.

Oh! Man! Behave like Man, if thou are a man.
Gentility lies but underneath the surface,
In presence of the opportunity springs up,
Whatever is hidden in flesh, blood and bones.