A Love Letter, poem by Sulafa Khalid

        For my late grandfather; Mohammed El Sanousi

    I am Chasing Gods and the whispers of the poor
    Watching sorrows decay and others come to life
    Anticipating a young rain to give me an ancient wisdom
    A fresh death between my hands, a foreign land,
    And a hope waiting behind locked doors

    My eyes are squinting against
    The strong light of your memories
    And I am trying to accustom my heart to distance and a
    Future devoid of your hoarse, kind voice
    I am trying to put my fire down
    And be content with a candlelight you left for my
    Inevitable path towards the sky
    For a book of tears on earth

    Your warm words flattered me, grandfather
    Filled my bag with pearls and emeralds
    While our smiles and the trail of silence after
    Discovered and rediscovered
    The joys of being akin
    A garden for heal

    From one heartbeat to the other,
    One child to another
    Your fatherhood extended
    A sacred gift from a silent God
    Responding to me
    Holding me

    I am traveling alone now
    Chasing translucent landscapes
    Your prayer keeping me company
    An angel over my thoughts,
    An amulet when I get lost in an interior desert

    But I want to rub lotion on your dry skin
    Kiss your forehead
    Place your rosemary on the side table
    Feel pleased when you introduce me as
    Your beautiful granddaughter
    I want to watch you lowering your gaze
    On my grandma's face
    A dusk, a holy flight

    I know my tears won't moisten your drought grave
    My words won't bring you back
    And the truth is, your breath is the softest
    A heaven would breathe
    Your soul, as promised, resting between
    The hands of the divine

    So I am not writing you
    I am too deprived for that
    Neither resisting your death
    I am just trying to tell you I am sorry
    I am five years late
    For chasing my ego
    And missing much of you

    I am running to you now, can you feel me?
    My words elegies on your grave
    My stars your bones
    My arms absorbing the tears of your loved ones
    A palette of dark colors
    My eyes are searching for my beloved
    A naked dream, a russet Nile, a home
    And my body is an old song you hummed

    The road is lonely, yes…
    But I will not fold my wings
    Because you loved me
    Much more than I thought.
    I will not fold my wings



AddThis Social Bookmark Button