The Fast

THE FAST

Walking down the street

The breeze against my cheek

All my senses abound

With heightened sensitivity resound

 

On this precious day

Abstain have I

From the world of clay

To His call

I attempt to obey

 

And now the hour

Has come and passed

And still I abstain

Hoping to make it last

 

A peace has come to me

On this days fast

As I approach with need

my evening repast

 

This fast is a precious gift

The high from low we doth sift

Allowing our soul to drift

Along that higher plane

And away from

The truly inane

 

I do not sorrow at taking food

it is a need

Which I have understood

This world of dust

Will soon give way

To the time when I

Will fly away

To that world of which

My heart longs

That world to which

We all belong

 

So of that world

We have a taste

To which

With heart, body and soul

We long to embrace

-Shiidon, ‘Alá 165 BE, March 2009 AD

This years fast has been very special to me.  I have found myself breaking my fast sometimes an hour or more after sunset as I relish the feeling of peace and comfort that I feel.  Work has been quite busy taking away some of my attention but my thoughts return to the fast with a focus.  For once I am not vowing to reform my eating habits or other such things, I am truly enjoying each moment of the day without much thought to want or need.  I simply remember the blessings and challenges surrounding me.  I think of the Bahá'í's in prison in Iran or my students in Iran and how they are doing.  I think of family and friends.  I wonder at the world around me.  Right now the birds are singing outside my window and between that and the classical music playing I feel inspired and so this poem came to me.  Fasting is a precious gift.  Bahá'u'lláh, in a prayer for the fast, describes observing it as "...a light unto the people of Thy kingdom..."

I look ruefully upon the last days of this years fast.  The days are drawing to a close and another New Year is about to begin.  What a precious year this has been and I look forward to Naw Ruz with joyful anticipation.