Brown picket fence,
crossing borders—barter,
of custom(ary) dowry,
and nikah beyond wali.

Foreign weather,
foreign tongues,
foreign sparks.

Permit—ssable
by nature,
but not
legislature.

Pretty passport, privilege.
Permanent identity—
self-interest,
lineage.

🪪

There’s a fine line
between wants
and needs.

I don’t need you.

I just want you.

Could that be even worse?

✖️

When you‘re about to float
like a lost balloon—don’t!

You stay anchored,
grounded,
despite
being
wounded.

On land,
or in water,
so other’s
don’t drift—
even drowned,
even blood
dilutes.

🌊

You had no idea,
all the things I told my ChatGPT.

A silent voice with no belittle,
felt more human when they just listened.

🤖

Dripping nectar
from forbidden fruit
tasted far sweeter,
ripened quicker,
premature,
yet stronger.

Like Adam and Eve,
you’ve been teased—
and oh Lord,
divinely
deceived.

🍇

Each sip burns my tongue,
yet the more I taste,
the deeper I’m hooked.

You’re bitter-hot,
bold and addictive,
in every drop.

No-calorie sweetness—
no weight,
just ache.

☕️

I change my faca̶d̶es
like I change
my kabuki,
kumadori,
masquerade.

Strongly tonic.
Delicately platonic.
Performatively
neurotic.

—— Intermission ——

Formal *****,
casual dances,
tea ceremony.

Behind the stage
persona reveals.

Canapés with
unprecedented,
unpredictable taste.

Just how you might—
I like it.

🎭