Social Drink
A strange call beeped on my phone few hours before setting fire, querying about something I had intend writing about. This drink which is still my very good friend, I love keeping company with even when many seek to distance themselves from it— still bothering? oh uh! what more can I say or do to convey about you, O Beloved Tea!!!.
The social drink and it’s addictive attitude has long circulated, crossed roads and flew pass Atlantic Ocean. There is no land on earth that hasn’t tasted you yet, O Beloved Tea. Long before the day and it breath got exhausted, we’ve been yearning and willing to cook you, O brownish blackened tea!
You are not a coffin, for you awaken instead of burying bodies to rest, when there’s no time. Coffee has qualities but unlike yours, despite simile with yours: green tea coming from an extended family of sip-sip-sipping.
Before I never knew much of you, even now I can only profess of your name — ataya, as I’ve seen you in many of my dreams, and heard from pedestrians paving the untarred road to success, which they often request, sometimes stand or sit with people comfortably awaiting their turn take a drink of it.
The late Imam of Medina Baye, Kaolack — Senegal: Shaykh Imam Hassan Cisse (raḍiya llāhuʿanhu) is reported to have said: ‘’Ataya ‘green tea’ without Ananah ‘mint leave’ is like Medina, without it’s founder, Baye Niasse (raḍiya llāhu ʿanhu).’’
Now what is it about ataya that has kept Men and still keeping Women on the waiting line? I don’t know, I drink to kill time and to stay night reading, writing and flipping my prayer beads seeking divine pardon and sending Blessings upon Muhammad (ṣallā llāhu ʿalayhi wasallam).
Unbelievable! despite the wait, for long, long minutes you only get a little sip ripping from the burning coal’s benefits.
Writing about ataya is more boredom than waiting for it to be served whiles on fire, who rewards who!… I thank you for being my friend and companion towards night vigils. O Beloved Tea, I love you and really do enjoy kissing and sipping your nutrients from my little glass.
~
Nasiru Deen — — Ataya and Coffee addict!
