Reading Obama

The Cairo Speech

By Eric Meub

—Inspired by Barack Obama’s memoir, A Promised Land, pp. 358-59, 365-66

To hear a U.S. president tell hard

But basic truths would catch them all off guard—

To recognize achievements, that’s a start:

Islamic math, its sciences, its art.

Delivering their salutation from
Your mouth—Assalamu alaíkum—
You heard from them a roar that might have pieced
Together a transcendent Middle East.

Young people building—with their fathers’ tools
Of faith and wisdom—businesses and schools,
Might lead new democratic governments
To human rights, to peace, to tolerance.

Imagine—now—that lofty hopeful tone
Against the expectations overthrown.
What could it do? It was a single speech.
A better world. A vision. Out of reach.

But sir, perhaps we only had to wait:
The prophet has outlived the head of state.
It’s different now, your magic carpet tale
Of golden prophesies that needn’t fail.

Copyright © 2021 by Eric Meub