She was borne at dawn, in a tent, on a rooftop
Her moon like eyes reflected lightening the way mirrors brutally reflects imperfections
Her tiny hands had engraved palmar creases that spelled “strength”
Her smile was the rarest of sapphires and to dishonesty her heart was stealth
She grew up longing for the day she leaves her tent to face the world
Every night she goes to sleep to watch her dreams unfold
She dreams of lions speaking of fear
roaming around like clouds
A sword and a torch appear in her tiny hands
“I will defeat you” she says
But she wakes up! …
Only with warm tears blocking her eyesight … …
She used the torch to seal the tent closed
And the sword to cut herself a tiny window
From which she could look out
convincing herself that … this way … she can safely face the world!
So, she stays …
In the tent … on the rooftop …

She had a perfume that smelled like jasmine when she woke me up in the morning and like roses when she tucked me in at night

It was the same perfume sprayed from the same bottle, but it smelled different every time I visited her

Her perfume translated her feelings into delicate smells … smells I will never be able to forget

The same perfume is still sprayed from the same bottle …
but now … it smells like fear

She no longer wears that perfume … “it makes me sad” she says …
It makes us all sad! …

Its drizzling droplets brushes against our senses awakening sedated memories …
Memories of …

Of grandpa’s happy eyes, warm embracing voice and tender sheltering hug … he was the kind of person whose presence can be felt from a distance. He would smile every time your eyes meet his as if he was noticing you for the very first time …

Of mother’s childhood dreams tucked carefully in her braided hair …
Of baby brother’s golden straight hair and wide curious brown eyes

Of our tiny apartment whose windows allowed light to enter only from her room … the burgundy colored velvet salon chairs neatly covered by off white sheets … the noisy fridge who made sure everyone noticed me steeling ice-cream at midnight …

Grandma’s perfume harbors our memories …
Its droplets carry away our happiness leaving us stinking of fear!

we write because we are told
we write because we are cold

so why write poetry?

is it to obey
is it to simply misbehave
is it due today
is it more than what we say

if not
why do you write poetry?

because I can
&
because I am

we are made to feel
we are made to speak
some people are quiet
and others are bleak

words are expressive and alive
but some words are best left to die