The Flavor of Culture by Iman Ilias

I think it’s safe to say Today wasn’t the best of days I failed my Algebra test And in Phys Ed I didn’t get to rest Now finally I’m back home Looking for some comfort I search the fridge Ah! There it is My grandmother’s Chicken Karhai, A Pakistani curry made of chicken and delightful spices As I sit down to eat, I am transported on a wondrous journey The vibrant red color of the curry Reminds me of the clothes women wear At traditional Pakistani weddings Red, yellow, blue, green Striking patterns stitched with silver thread on them I think of their long, dangling earrings How they swing back and forth gracefully As they dance and sing jovially I savor the rich flavor of the chicken, And I recall eating Biryani at the local mosque And how the community there was in fact Like the delicious rice itself Both composite blends Each grain a different color than another And each person is too The shape of every grain is distinct And the backgrounds of all the people different But both the rice and the community Come together as one To provide a wholesome and beautiful result All those people who think Muslims are terrorists Don’t know what Islam is really like They don’t know who we truly are We who embrace, love, and respect Not who encourage violence and hatred Who believe in family, and community, and strength of character The texture of the warm, white, scrumptious Naan bread That I eat with the curry Evokes memories of the cozy blanket that family provides In times of struggle In times of failure, My family tells me that failure is in fact not a bad thing But that it offers many lessons of life That I should learn from my mistakes And learn what I should be wary of next time Family will be the first ones To pick you up when you fall Family is the people who feel most proud of you When you experience success They’re the people who shape your values And the way you look at life As I finish the meal, I rise from the table And my spirits rise as well