Pluralism

In the Middle East and in
areas of Europe no one would
glance more than once. In due
time, we are informed, the
presence of a young man
with sharp, swarthy features,
bearded, sandalled, garbed
head to toe in a loose white robe,
would be taken as commonplace
in an increasingly colourful society
welcoming world-wide migrants.
This is not yet that time and his
appearance was conspicuous
by the measure of his presentation
in the crowded supermarket full
of shoppers anxious not to
miss food bargains. In the crush
of people, shopping carts were
at a premium and he pushed one
fronted by a baby carrier built
into the cart upon which lay a large
bunch of bulb-red, leafy-green
radishes. Two large watermelons
sat within the cart, alongside
rapini and kale. Cellphone at 
his ear, he probed among sale items
extracting two bags of potato chips
emerging from his spree to
approach the cash. Suddenly,
his purchases, less ascetic, he
has clearly achieved assimilation.