Excerpt from Poem by Naomi Shihab Nye

The reading is from a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye

The Arabs used to say,
When a stranger appears at your door,
feed him for three days
before asking who he is,
where he’s come from,
where he’s headed.

That way, he’ll have strength enough
to answer.

Or, by then you’ll be such good friends
you don’t care.

Let’s go back to that.
Rice? Pine nuts?

Here, take the red brocade pillow.

. . .

Your plate is waiting.

We will snip fresh mint
into your tea.