ng　in　olive　oil；　rain　falling　into　a　calm

sea at dawn； the unexpected appearance of a woman at an open window；

silences；　thought　and　patience。　I　believe　in　myself；　and；　most　of　the　time；　pay

no mind to what’s been said about me。 Tonight； however； I’ve e to this

coffeehouse to set my miniaturist and calligrapher brethren straight about

certain　gossip；　lies　and　rumors。

Of　course；　because　I’m　the　one　speaking；　you’re　already　prepared　to　believe

the exact opposite of what I say。 But you’re smart enough to sense that the

opposite of what I say is not always true； and though you might doubt me；

you’re　astute　enough　to　take　an　interest　in　my　words：　You’re　well　aware　that

my　name；　which　appears　in　the　Glorious　Koran　fifty…two　times；　is　one　of　the

most　frequently　cited。

All right then； let me begin with God’s book； the Glorious Koran。

Everything　about　me　in　there　is　the　truth。　Let　it　be　known　that　when　I　say　this；

I do so with the utmost humility。 For there’s also the issue of style。 It has

always　caused　m