ON THE SHEIKH HASSOUN AND JOHN PAUL, BY HUDA ORFALI and PETER PATON

This expresses some of my feelings since returning from Syria. More poems by Huda can be found here.

The Peacemakers

by Huda Orfali

Friday, September 15, 2006

Dedicated to His Holiness Pope John Paul II and the Grand mufti of Syria Sheikh Ahmad Hasoun

The Peacemakers

Collaboration by Peter Paton and Huda Orfali

As the religious divide grows

In the troubled world

They call for dialogue and harmony

In a country where prayers are heard

From two divine neighbors

The church and the mosque

They echo one another

In one call for love

In the world of Islam

He is a shining light

Who teaches tolerance

And unconditional love for all

A spiritual leader

Of great virtue and purity

Who extols and promotes

The Brotherhood of Man

A magnificent orator

Whose words celebrate the truth

Healing all the divisions

That separate faiths and beliefs

A tireless and blessed worker

For the oppressed and the poor

Who embraces all humans

As sacred children of God

In the world of Christianity

He was a shining light

His touch healed the divide

When he visited the Umayyad mosque

Where his namesake is buried

And prayed with his Muslim brethrens

A Saint who embraces all humans

As sacred children of God

Peter Paton & Huda Orfali

© 2006

© Marc Gopin

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