Eid by Alamgir Hashmi

    Alamgir Hashmi (born 15 November 1951) is a Pakistani poet who writes in English. His early poetry is more evocative and expressive, while his later poems become more complex and obscure. Some key features of his poetry include: 1) He has complete mastery of the English language and is influenced by Western poetic traditions. 2) His poems are more cerebral and thought-provoking rather than emotive. 3) His themes often explore the impact of unusual events or intense emotions on the human psyche. 4) His style has become more modernist and abstract over time, similar to other English language poets in Pakistan. (Scribd)

Eid

Perhaps Eid is more than the Vermicelli thing

I was spooned to believe.

In the mosque this morning 

I promised God to bend my knees another four times.

My fellow knee-benders raised offertory, 

to cushion the prayer-keeper, 

so expiate the neglect he suffered on the wooden bench.

Outside, the beggars buttonholed us, 

Eid could not anchor in their corduroy cheeks.

How can these spindling shapes be blotted out from the face of the morning?

I had left behind my blotting paper the last day at school.

The master said in holiday there was no danger of staining. 

I was convinced. 

But question hovered like flies over my plate as we began to eat.

My father said, watch that!

I held the shining spoon to my mouth, looking for my face in it.