Three Wise Men, No Camels
       

At first, the stream is older couples
and single women and men making their way
down the aisles to find seats with friends,
followed by students, many New Mainers—
Sudanese, Somali, Congolese, Iraqis.
A few of the girls wear hijabs, abayas;
the boys in jeans and tee-shirts sit
in the back of the room. Two mies
are set up in front of a podium and four chairs
on a low well-lighted stage, a forum to promote
interreligious dialogue in a time of conflict.
A PBS moderator is there to ask hard questions
of three religious scholars. After a relentless hour
of heady introductions by long-winded community leaders,
the Catholic bishop in pressed priest garb, pot belly
hanging low over creased dark pants, speaks first
in a long halting dogmatic diatribe, saying little
about the subject matter, much
about his academic field
followed by the rabbi, in a nicely fitted suit,
button-down collar shirt, salt and pepper beard.
He has more appeal, a progressive reformed Jew,
open-minded and ready to embrace change.
The third speaker wears thick glasses,
a dark suit and when seated, an austere look.
When he rises to the podium his smile
is broad, embracing. "I'm known as the feminist Imam."
The crowd explodes, people clap loudly.
No music or birds, but you can imagine them flying
around the room flapping and cackling and whistling
a happy tune. He talks of equality in all aspects of life—
religion not for one gender or one denomination,
but the means to create collaboration
where believers and nonbelievers serve others,
build community, practice action. His reach is far,
wide, and full of hope. The rabbi and bishop
sit quietly, eyes downcast, fingers tapping
chair arms, filled, I imagine, with their own hope
that they will not be called on to respond.

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Copyright © 2018 Marc Swan All rights reserved
from today can take your breath away
Sheila-Na-Gig Editions
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