Do you know what fasting is?

An entry for the Ramadan 2003 contest. The Islamic definition of fasting.

Do you know what fasting is?
"It is having no food or drink
from when the sun rises to when it sinks
there isn't much more to it I think."

That is partly true
But when fasting, there is much more to do
Fasting is beating the grey dust off your soul
making it clean, white and pure
Not one black word escapes your lips
Not one black look from your eyes
Because of the blessing that fasting is

A strengthening of faith
A teacher of restraint
A healing of the heart
Uniting what was apart
Because of the fortress that fasting is

A new better beginning
Wiping that dirty board clean
The suitable day, The best way
to start all over again

Remember, Recall, Repent
Joy, Awe, Wonder, Bliss,
Empathy
Gentleness
Do you know what fasting is?